This has nothing to do with competition. It has everything to do with proper chain of custody, legitimate nomenclature assignment, TKW figures, science and collector confidence. Just because a Moroccan dealer says something is a lunar meteorite does not make it so. Just ask the buyers who got ripped off in Tucson this year and the year before. There have been some very convincing lunar-looking Eucrites that have fooled some of the best. There was an embarrassing incident where a scientist claimed something was lunar before running all of the tests and it turned out to be a Eucrite. Many dealers had to recall the material after being in a hurry to put it on the market.
To put things in perspective, Luniates are considered the top of the meteorite collectibles chain every since the article, "Mining for Meteorites" in the Smithsonian magazine stated so. Only advanced mineral collections incorporate Meteorite specimens. A mineral specimen is worth a fraction of its cost if the find location and history are not known. Advanced mineral collectors would be appalled by what has happened with Martian meteorites and self-pairings. One well-known dealer purchased material from a Moroccan who stated it was paired to one of our stones. We publicly objected to this dealer using nomenclature assigned to our stones so he sent a piece in for study. It turned out to be a completely new Martian meteorite that was almost lost to science. I would dislike seeing Lunar meteorites being treated the same as some Martian meteorites. Total known weights have been carefully recorded to this point and it would be a shame to lose control. I congratulate anybody who is able to acquire lunar material, have it Laboratory confirmed and pass the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee for name assignment. It would demonstrate proper respect for some of the world's rarest material. Anything less is a disservice. Dealers are not allowed to rate their own diamonds or coins so why should meteorites that are much more rare be any different? Best Regards, Adam --- On Sun, 5/17/09, Galactic Stone & Ironworks <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] AD - Lunar available for sale > To: "Greg Catterton" <[email protected]> > Cc: [email protected] > Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009, 8:32 AM > Be careful Greg, now that you are > offering planetaries at reasonable > prices, you are going to be viewed as competition by the > big guys - > then they will start stabbing you in the back. Those > who are driven > by money are threatened by those like us who don't give a > crap about > profits. ;) > > Nice lunar. If I wasn't already sitting on my fair > share of lunars, > I'd buy a piece. > > Good luck. > > Best regards > > MikeG > > > > On 5/17/09, Greg Catterton <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > Not once did I ever say to anyone it came from you. > Anyone who claims I did, > > I invite them post the email where I made that > claim... > > > > I am sending a sample off to be tested Monday to Tony > Irving and the test > > results will speak for themselves as to what this is - > however Im sure > > anyone can see the picture of what I have: > > http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/DSCF1732.jpg > > and compare it with this: > > http://www.meteoritemarket.com/NWA4734-596A.jpg > > > > I want to state for the record, I am selling this for > less becouse I dont > > need to get rich off selling it. I dont sell > meteorites to make a living, > > pay for cars or houses... I sell them to help increase > my personal > > collection. > > I know what I paid for this and if the others who have > this paid anywhere > > close to what I did, they could sell it for half what > they do and still > > triple the money they put into it - even with cutting > loss. > > > > I know who I got it from is honest and reliable as for > the authenticity. > > > > That said, I wont sell anymore until testing is done, > but when it is, I will > > sell it for well under $1,200 per gram... > > > > Greg C. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Sun, 5/17/09, habibi abdelaziz <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > >> From: habibi abdelaziz <[email protected]> > >> Subject: AD - Lunar available for sale > >> To: "meteorite list" <[email protected]> > >> Cc: [email protected] > >> Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009, 3:32 AM > >> > >> hi greg > >> this material is not from me , however > it looks like > >> the monzoggabro, > >> but i m not sur is it isone from photo > >> > >> aziz > >> habibi aziz > >> box 70 erfoud 52200 morroco > >> phone. 21235576145 > >> fax.21235576170</font> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________ > > http://www.meteoritecentral.com > > Meteorite-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > > > > -- > ......................................................... > Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA) > Member of the Meteoritical Society. > Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network. > Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com > .......................................................... > ______________________________________________ > http://www.meteoritecentral.com > Meteorite-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > ______________________________________________ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
