[meteorite-list] HELP PLEASE - PECULIAR METEORITE DISCOVERY....

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:42:43 -0500
Message-ID: <9835373B-D9A4-427C-9A81-7B56F8CC8FFF_at_dof3.com>

Hi,

Thanks, everyone, for the initial wave of responses both on and off list.

I've clarified the following two points raised below and have taken a path similar to what Doug mentioned (also below).

Hopefully our learning what meteorite this is will prove helpful. Please circulate as you deem appropriate.

Here are the pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrylpitt/


Best/ d


On Feb 14, 2012, at 7:06 AM, John higgins wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> Sandy Hook is a national Park, regular civilians don't live there. There are no 75ft escarpments in Sandy Hook. Maybe if the guy said he was from Atlantic Highlands, that would make more sense..... This story is full of holes, Daryl please be careful.
>
>
> Best Regards from New Jersey,
> John Higgins
> IMCA # 9822
> www.outerspacerocks.com


He is from Highlands, NJ near Sandy Hook. I remembered the Sandy Hook reference and provided it as a general location in Northeastern, N.J. I didn't know that Sandy Hook was not also a town.


On Feb 13, 2012, at 11:52 PM, Pete Pete wrote:

> I agree with Mike, Daryl!
>
> I'm trying to imagine a scenario of a house on a ravine, a guy finding a rusty lump, and the wife persistently tries to throw the lump out in the garbage(?!) instead of simply heaving it over the fence?
>
> Doesn't track. Sounds like a scripted story.
>
> Like we say at work - "The name's Tucker, not sucker!"
>
> Pete


No fence. (I asked as I was also bewildered). Reportedly found at the edge of an escarpment. The wife seems honest and was the one doing the sleuthing here.


On Feb 14, 2012, at 3:15 AM, MexicoDoug wrote:

> "A seemingly honest fellow from Sandy Hook, NJ came to my office late today in
> the hope I could verify what he was told could be a meteorite---and it is."
>
> "are honest....but I just don't get it."
>
> Hi Darryl,
>
> Either you run with it or you give it back. But posting the pictures of the etch pattern should be pretty good evidence of some of the larger transported falls.
>
> Lots of explanations could account for the meteorite (the prior owner died and the rock stayed on the porch --- it's happened before ...etc.), but if we listen to Jefferson, while it would be easier to believe they are lying, the facts are what must be established. What do you have to lose? If you don't want to risk time and money, just see if they'll fax a release giving you permission to have it analyzed and just for your own protection slip in that they represent in good faith that the meteorite is their property and presented to you as an unknown for verification (which you mention is what gives them the right to have it analyzed since meteorites can be valuble)...
>
> Good luck, if it's a scam, bring it on. Let's see those pix...After all, no obvious match on the etch is great news no matter how you *slice* it. If the etch matches a large widely distributed fall, but they insisted and you wanted out,you could always offer to take a nice slice to pay your expenses in case it turns out to be common. Does that make sense?
>
> Kindest wishes
> Doug




On Feb 13, 2012, at 10:45 PM, Darryl Pitt wrote:

> Folks,
>
> I need your help; there is a problem here---I'm just not certain as to its nature.
>
> A seemingly honest fellow from Sandy Hook, NJ came to my office late today in the hope I could verify what he was told could be a meteorite---and it is.
>
> This fellow said that just after he moved in a year ago, he found it on the embankment of his backyard just beyond which is a 75 foot escarpment. The wife said she tried to throw the rusty thing out a couple of times and both times he rescued it from the garbage. It is a medium octahedrite which weighs 4.236 kg. How do I know it's a medium octahedrite? I could make out a feint pattern underneath a veneer of rust on the cut face. Yes, roughly speaking, this fellow found a cut and prepared meteorite in his backyard.
>
> The fellow left the specimen in my possession and agreed to allow me to have a sample removed and forwarded for analysis. I advised him there could be a problem here that could be readily determined---and he didn't seem fazed. While I've been accused of being naive, I nonetheless genuinely believe he and his wife are honest....but I just don't get it.
>
> Any thoughts here? Northeastern New Jersey. End piece. Medium octahedrite. 4.2 kg.
>
> I'll get a pic posted tomorrow.
>
> All best and thanks / d,
Received on Tue 14 Feb 2012 09:42:43 AM PST