[meteorite-list] AD - Amber Overstock - Buy Amber, Get Free Meteorites! And, FREE MARTIAN MICROS!

From: Yinan Wang <veomega_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 14:04:57 -0400
Message-ID: <CALpO9He1RrkwRpJrOFyDqy11v6xJGbb0phq3_Vtg2_Bt=f7x3Q_at_mail.gmail.com>

This is all starting to go off the topic of meteorites but I'll jump
in anyway (being a fossil dealer/collector-first and a meteorite guy
second):

1) Most baltic amber in rough/unpolished form is natural, they
literally find tons of it every year, no need to reconstitute into
larger pieces. Lots of inclusions are found as well. Round bubbles are
naturally found in genuine amber and are quite common. But, you can
tell if amber has been heated because the bubbles will flatten into
reflective discs inside the amber. So the polished amber in jewelry
tend to be reconstituted, but the ones with fossil specimens are
usually not.

2) There are plenty of fake amber and fake amber inclusions. Heat a
needle and use it to poke the amber, if it smells like burnt plastic
then it's plastic. Amber also floats in salt water. If you see
something like a perfect butterfly, scorpion, frog, lizard, etc; it's
a fake, the real specimens of those are never perfect. Most small
inclusions are natural, the forgers don't waste their time with small
stuff that sells cheap.

3) Know the difference between amber and copal. Amber is fossilized
and chemically changed, and is millions of years old. Copal could be
only 40 years old and is not solified into amber. If you put amber
next to a flame, it will carbonize. If you put copal near a flame, it
will bubble and melt.

Mike's stuff looks decent to me!
-Yinan



On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 1:44 PM, Pete Pete <rsvp321 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi, Mike, Doug, and All,
>
>
> It seems that an attraction to meteorites draws a crowd that just likes a variety of old stuff.
>
> I, too, am fascinated by amber!
>
>
> Being of Lithuanian heritage, I have a lot at my disposal for examination.
>
> Under the stereo microscope, staring at a preserved bubble knowing there is ancient air preserved inside, or multiple star-shaped oak pollen that in my imagination are still viable, is mesmerizing.
>
>
>
> I have found that maybe one out of twenty pea-size samples I have have some form of tiny critter within it, mostly gnats or similar.
>
> One contains what appears to be a midge with a full, bloated abdomen. (I'm just reading up on DNA so I can clone my own dinosaur with the help of a frog from my pond.)
>
>
>
> I purchased a Baltic amber specimen containing a spider and an ant recently from someone who is a well-established and reputable amber dealer on Ebay.
>
> There are no cracks or seams, or any suspicious signs of tampering, but how can I be sure these aren't modern insects implanted?
>
> I don't suspect that, but I'd like to hear some opinions what to look out for, for future purchases.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pete
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 12:58:47 -0400
>> From: meteoritemike at gmail.com
>> To: mexicodoug at aim.com
>> CC: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] AD - Amber Overstock - Buy Amber, Get Free Meteorites! And, FREE MARTIAN MICROS!
>>
>> Hi Doug,
>>
>> My amber collection come primarily from an old collection that
>> pre-dates the 1960s. The source I get it from is a long-time partner
>> that I trust more than 50% of the meteorite people I know. What's
>> more, several pieces and lots have sold to universities for amber
>> studies, and all have been verified and genuine unaltered. I'm happy
>> with them, but I just have too much it - over 2 kilos of small to
>> medium pieces - which is many individual pieces because amber doesn't
>> weigh much,
>>
>> I have pieces from over a dozen localities, including rare types like
>> Burmite, New Jersey, Lebanese, etc. Counting copals, the number of
>> localities rises significantly.
>>
>> The Chiapas region is not safe any more, so supply is dwindling from that area.
>>
>> I'll sit down tonight to edit most of the listings and changed the
>> terminology from "raw" to "unsearched" or "rough". It's about 75
>> listings, so it will take me a while. But I want to make sure my
>> terminology is correct - unlike the multiple meteorite dealers who
>> insist on referring to desert varnish as "fusion crust". LOL
>>
>> Best regards and clear skies,
>>
>> MikeG
>>
>>
>> On 4/3/12, MexicoDoug wrote:
>> > Hi Mike, listers
>> >
>> > I just looked at some of your interesting ambar, as I happen to have a
>> > resiny spot in my fossilized heart for the stuff, too. Ambar is a
>> > difficult subject for casual enthusiasts. So I just wanted to add a
>> > couple of tips while you have your ambar for meteorites swap going on.
>> >
>> > Baltic amber: 90% of tyhe stuff being sold in shows and over the
>> > internet is reconstituted, as are most of the inclusions,. basically
>> > faked IMO. When buying Baltic, since scrap and tiny pieces can be
>> > combined by just melting it together, be sure to understand exactly
>> > what you are getting from your supplier and only buy from one you
>> > trust. Any of the stuff with that look of bubbles which the
>> > non-natural history enthusiast may think looks interesting - those
>> > bubbles are caused by reconstitution; etc. Know your supplier.
>> >
>> > Mexican ?mbar. Mike has a cute selection. Bring back lots of memories
>> > of
>> >
>> > hmmmm....infections of falling down mudbanks, crumbling mountainsides
>> > and collapsing crap everywhere; and foolishly risking life to recover
>> > lots of this stuff on site, were were mud falls, bad Mayans aad a host
>> > of obstacles all tending to slit your throat if you let down your guard
>> > there, including one guy who unsuccessfully did his best to kill me in
>> > an old fashioned fight that I didn't start. Sheesh, I think he was from
>> > another planet or nuts, thought there are many like him and murders are
>> > commonplace. Like I said a lot of fun memories, and all that for
>> > basically a waste of time as I haven't sold more than three pieces
>> > except many rare insect inclusion stuff (I have piles of this
>> > stuff).....
>> >
>> > Attached is a sample of some real raw stuff I happen to have with me at
>> > the moment; Mike's stuff almost all labeled as *raw*, should all be
>> > labeled as *rough*, it is not raw. The rough stuff you can get an idea
>> > how clear the ambar is inside; the raw stuff has a black coating
>> > something like fusion crust around it and this crust gets broken when
>> > pieces are chipped out of the ground matrix in which they are found.
>> > Clear is cool, valued more, but most have not insects, but moss
>> > inclusions inside them. The chances of finding any insect of
>> > sigicicance from rough stuff is next to impossible. The locals just
>> > wet the suface and can see whatever is inside., and then it gets sold
>> > as 'unsearched', anyway. Let me tell you, they could find a protozoan
>> > inclusion in a stack of rocks, they have eagle eyes. So ask your
>> > supplier about the real story.
>> >
>> > In the image of the raw stuff is a piece I personally professionally
>> > cut and polished to see a good quality piece inside. This one has some
>> > slight UV action going on and is unique to Mexican and Caribbean ambar
>> > - the Solar UV comes in and the ambar has the ability to absorbe it and
>> > re-radiate it in the visible blue region - very cool physical/chemical
>> > property.
>> >
>> > http://www.diogenite.com/Chapas.jpg
>> >
>> > I've also attached a rough larger piece for fun, good piece to get
>> > carved into a dragon, or maybe a Budda, etc.
>> >
>> > http://www.diogenite.com/Chapas2.jpg
>> >
>> > Kindest wishes
>> > Doug
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Michael Gilmer
>> > To: meteorite-list
>> > Sent: Mon, Apr 2, 2012 7:17 pm
>> > Subject: [meteorite-list] AD - Amber Overstock - Buy Amber, Get Free
>> > Meteorites! And, FREE MARTIAN MICROS!
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi Friends and Collectors,
>> >
>> > As a result of some recent dealer trades, I am now overstocked on
>> > fossil amber. As of right now, I have more amber in my cabinet than I
>> > do meteorites. Don't get me wrong, amber is great fun to collect, but
>> > my main bread and butter is meteorites, so I would like to focus on
>> > space rocks.
>> >
>> > So here is a deal I am offering. For every 2 dollars you send on
>> > amber, you will get $1 in credit towards meteorites. You can even use
>> > your "metlist" coupon code in combination with this offer!
>> >
>> > If you purchase $50 worth of amber (before the coupon), you will
>> > receive a store credit worth $25 towards meteorites - pretty cool huh?
>> >
>> > There is only one small exclusion - this discount cannot be used
>> > towards the big Campo Iron meteorites that I have on consignment from
>> > Pat Mulvany - those are not mine, and I don't have any leeway to offer
>> > substantial discounts on them.
>> >
>> > Furthermore, all orders over $75 (any specimens, after coupon) will
>> > receive a free micromount of the new Martian meteorite witnessed fall,
>> > Tissint. Your Mars micro will come in a labeled gemjar and includes a
>> > specimen card.
>> >
>> > See all of the amber here (including pieces with trapped insects) -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/products/copal-amber
>> >
>> > So if any of you are curious about amber, now is the chance to get a
>> > great deal - 20% off, plus free credit towards meteorites. And you
>> > get a free Martian meteorite micro for any order over $75 (post
>> > coupon).
>> >
>> > Lastly, I also have some auction listings and BIN listings closing on
>> > eBay in just a few hours. A few of these are items from my website,
>> > which are being offered at a deep discount on eBay.
>> >
>> > See all the eBay listings here - http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/maypickle
>> >
>> > See all of the newest store offerings here -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/products/brand-new
>> >
>> > See all clearance-sale items here -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/products/clearance-sale
>> >
>> > Other Offerings :
>> >
>> > Juanita de Angeles micromounts (H5 chondrite) -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/juanita-de-angeles--mexican-h5-meteorite-from-mine-micromount
>> >
>> > KT Boundary/Chicxulub micromounts -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/kt-boundary-material--cretaceous-tertiary-dinosaur-extinction-chicxulub-impact-sample
>> >
>> > KT Boundary/Chicxulub displays -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/chicxulub-tektite-display-rare-dinosaur-extinction-relic
>> >
>> > Canyon Diablo shale fragment -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/canyon-diablo-unsorted-meteoritic-shale-197
>> >
>> > Canyon Diablo Visitor Center pack -
>> > http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/meteor-crater-visitor-pack--brochure-and-decal-from-canyon-diablo
>> >
>> >
>> > If you have any problems with checkout or the coupon code, email me at
>> > - mike at galactic-stone.com
>> >
>> > Thanks for looking and have a great day!
>> >
>> > MikeG
>> >
>> > PS - all outstanding orders are now shipped - they are on the way! :)
>> >
>> > --
>> > -----------------------------------------------------------
>> > Galactic Stone & Ironworks - MikeG
>> >
>> > Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
>> > Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
>> > Twitter: http://twitter.com/GalacticStone
>> > RSS: http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
>> > -----------------------------------------------------------
>> > ______________________________________________
>> >
>> > Visit the Archives at
>> > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>> Galactic Stone & Ironworks - MikeG
>>
>> Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
>> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/GalacticStone
>> RSS: http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
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Received on Tue 03 Apr 2012 02:04:57 PM PDT