[meteorite-list] Tunguska (not)

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:31:13 -0400
Message-ID: <CAKBPJW9HdbhNgVsHLH59xBGXpf5Ji181F1aq=TDdVgnRYuHcSA_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Doug and List,

I agree - many of the fakes go unsold, thankfully. Most of the scam
sellers are too greedy and ask exhorbitant prices, which scares off
most buyers, even the naive ones.

Over time, I think people will become educated about fakes and wrongs.
 The combined efforts of this List, the IMCA, and individual outreach
will make a difference in the long run. The correct information is
out there on the web available to all who seek it. It's just a matter
of each newbie putting in a little time to do their homework before
rushing out to buy one of those exotic rocks from space.

I just pity the poor people who buy a fake and find out later that
they were scammed and it turns them off to meteorites forever. It's
similar to those cheap department store telescopes that promise "600x
magnification!" in a 60mm refractor with cheap glass that is stopped
down by intrusive baffles to less than 50mm. Worse, it has a shaky
inadequate mount. So some promising young astronomer gets one of
these, has a bad first experience, and gets turned off to telescopes
forever. We also try to educate those people through message boards
like Cloudy Nights and outreach. It does make a difference, it just
takes time on our part, and a little bit of effort to become educated
on the part of the newbie. :)

Done right, the new meteorite collector will embark on a lifelong
passion of collecting space rocks. And the newbie astronomer will buy
a decent scope with good optics and a solid mount (and good
eyepieces!) and be inspired to gaze with awe at the heavens above for
many years to come. :)

Best regards,

MikeG

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Meteorites & Amber (Michael Gilmer)
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On 7/26/11, MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike -
>
> I think you are right, but at the same time I am not underestimating
> the fakes.  Luckily, natural selection is at work and a much great
> proportion of the fakes go unsold, reconciling our numbers in the
> winds.  What counts is what's sold, nothing more and unfortunately,
> nothing less!  The rest is just a nasty virus in quarantine...
>
> Best wishes
> Doug
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
> To: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com>
> Cc: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Sent: Tue, Jul 26, 2011 7:48 pm
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tunguska (not)
>
>
> Hi Doug,
>
> I think you are too generous in your numbers.  The number of fakes on
> eBay is probably closer to 15% or more, if you include all of the
> carved/molded "tektite" or "meteorite" figurines coming out of the far
> east.  All of those little Buddhas, Tibetan knives, etc, are all
> fakes.  And don't forget the bogus "apple green" Moldavite pieces
> being offered.  I'd bet 20% of the Moldavite on eBay is fake.
>
> Buyer beware.
>
> For those who want to do their homework before they start bidding, see
> these sites :
>
> http://meteorite-identification.com/index.htm
>
> http://meteorites.wustl.edu/meteorwrongs/meteorwrongs.htm
>
> http://meteorites.asu.edu/meteorite-facts/have-a-meteorite
>
> http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2009/jul09.htm
>
> http://meteorites.pdx.edu/meteor_wrong.htm
>
> An hour or two spent reading these websites would prevent 90% of the
> ripoffs on eBay and elsewhere.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MikeG
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Meteorites & Amber (Michael Gilmer)
>
> Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com
> Facebook - http://tinyurl.com/42h79my
> News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
> Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone
> EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
>
> On 7/26/11, MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com> wrote:
>> Any takers?
>>
>> Two sold, six to go ...
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com?ViewItem&item=180558454201
>>
>> If you figure 5-10% of what is sold in the meteorite and tektites
>> category on eBay isn't authentic, have you ever wondered where these
>> things all go, Is someone with HF saliva eating them?
>>
>> Best wishes
>> Doug
>>
>> And this tragedy:
>> Ouelle is less than 300 miles away - maybe he learned on Ivory Coast
>> tektites?
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OK46kfgOA
>>
>> The great Houdini
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCbOKOj8krw
>>
>> The world is a strange place when people resort to these things.  At
>> home in Mexico it is still common to find fire swallowers that sit at
> a
>> stoplight all day in the hot Sun saturating their lungs with gasoline
>> and breathing out while igniting their dragon breath.
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M0Q8lbh1e4
>>
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>
>
>

Received on Tue 26 Jul 2011 11:31:13 PM PDT