[meteorite-list] Geological Survey of Canada fails to return piece of meteorite he discovered

From: Paul H. <inselberg_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:32:56 -0500
Message-ID: <20130212043256.NNUU1.243519.imail_at_eastrmwml207>

In ?Geological Survey of Canada fails to return piece of meteorite he discovered? at
http://www.mail-archive.com/meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com/msg110706.html
MikeG wrote:

?I am a bit confused here. I didn't see the name of the meteorite
mentioned in the article, only that it was found in the Yukon in
1986. Is this an unclassified fall or find??

It is an unclassified find. According to the news articles, the
Canadian Geological Survey geologists have determined that
it is a meteorite.

MikeG stated.

?Also, a $1000 payout for a 243g meteorite works out to a mere
$4/g - which is pretty good for a highly-weathered ordinary
chondrite find. But a fresher, recent fall should fetch more than that.?

According to the below article, that was the lower end of price
range that Attorney General of Canada Office appraised it as
noted in:

Decade-long disagreement over meteorite back in court
(A more than 10-year battle Daniel Sabo has had with the
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) continued Monday in
the Yukon Court of Appeal.) by Stephanie Waddell, Whitehorse
Daily Star, November 6, 2012
http://www.whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/decade-long-disagreement-over-meteorite-back-in-court/

In this article, Mrs. Waddell wrote,

?While Sabo has estimated the rock?s value at $12.1 million,
Alexander Benitah, who?s representing the Attorney General
of Canada in the case, pointed to estimates that had it come
in between $1,000 and $2,500 based on the evidence of the
GSC.

He argued Sabo?s valuation is based solely on the highest-priced
meteorite Sabo found on the Internet, while the $1,000 to $2,500
is based on the evidence of the GSC.?

Finally, MikeG stated.

?Lastly, the guy sounds like some sort of conspiracy nut who
claimed GSC switched out his meteorite and gave him an
imposter in return. Then he demanded $12 million in damages,
which was denied.?

The below articles are rather revealing of the entire controversy
and Daniel Sabo?s state of mind.

1. Meteorite conspiracy could be on the rocks by Tristin Hopper,
Yukon news, September 12, 2008 http://yukon-news.com/news/9865/

2. A tale of two meteorites by Tristin Hopper Yukon News,
July 18, 2008, http://www.yukon-news.com/sports/9552/

For example, Mr. Sabo believes not only did the Canadian
Geological Survey replaced his meteorite with a carefully sculpted
replica made from another meteorite, but they also gave his
original meteorite to NASA?s Johnson Space Laboratory. He
also claims that the ?fusion crust? on the specimen was faked
using ?aluminum ? embedded with iron particles to simulate
the magnetic properties of magnetite.?

Yours,

Paul H.
Received on Mon 11 Feb 2013 11:32:56 PM PST