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G'day List,
I just thought I would mention that yesterday I went and
viewed the Melbourne Museum's Meteorite Collection. I would have to say that the
best specimen I saw (possibly will ever see) was the Moama Eucrite. A truly
amazing specimen. An extremely fresh oriented 3.3kg stone. I try and get a photo
to post on my site.
While I was there I enquired about
the Australian meteorite laws. It seems we all know about the Moveable
Cultural Heritage Act which prevents the sale of meteorites overseas without the
proper permits. However there are more laws I didn't know about and might
assume most of us don't. It seems that four states have their own secondary laws
which say that you aren't allowed to own meteorites from those states. These
states are Western Australia, Nothern Territory, South Australia and
Queensland I think was the fourth. Basically it is illegal to own them as
they are the property of the state.
Does anyone else know about these laws? I know that a
number of people on this list have traded with these states' museums. Maybe
someone else can say if these laws have hindered or not in trading with
Australian museums?
Time to go under-ground! ;-)
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