I wouldn't expect anything less from a dealer, with few exceptions.
The point, Darryl, is that I wouldn't care if it's the largest stone
or the smallest one - and I know for a fact that there are larger
stones from this fall that have already been found.
Just...look at those photos. It's a beautiful stone.
--Meteorites are necessarily subdivided to assist researchers in
their work;
--No true meteorite lover would thwart such research by preventing
the
subdivision of their specimen;
Broken side or not, it's a beautiful stone, and it's a shame to see it
cut. Yes, samples of falls are always required for analysis and
study, and I'm always willing to give up that share. You imply that
we're against it.
And there's a hell of a big difference between giving 20 grams (or
more) to science and slicing up a stone to sell to collectors.
--Joe's stone was already subdivided by atmospheric forces. It was
incomplete and I do not comprehend why the supposed largest stone
needs to
be preserved as found;
The main justification that I've seen so for for cutting it is that
'it's a broken stone - it should be cut anyways.' Two or three people
have brought this up.
Practically all meteorites are "subdivided by atmospheric forces."
You seem to be implying that a complete fusion crust would be enough
to warrant not cutting it. Look at the photographs, Darryl. It's a
beautiful stone.
I used to be of the mentality that 'if it's not complete, it's not
worth getting.' But lately, I've been seeing larger fragments of
beautiful fresh falls, and I've stopped caring so much. A broken side
on a meteorite is a window into the interior of what's likely a four
and a half billion year old time capsule. Especially with a breccia
like this stone...a broken side doesn't detract. Yes, you might get a
few dollars less per gram. As a collector, that makes it all the more
appealing to me.
The
comparison of Mineral Point to the Mona Lisa (chasing the
alliteration) does
not hold up to scrutiny. Meteorites are not paintings---which are
typically
not cut apart, except by art critics.
The only place I see the analogy actually failing is with regards to
the fact that science always needs a piece of a given meteorite, so
you always have to 'cut that corner off.'
I would argue that we should cut meteorites up about as often as
paintings are shredded, with few exceptions. If there's scientific
work to be done, great, cut it. If not...cutting up stones for money
and so that 'everyone can have a piece'...
Darryl, you say that cutting stones up for science is a good thing -
but that's such a vague statement. I agree - samples should be
available for science, but that's not what happens. Science gets what
science gets, and the rest gets sold. You can't justify the dicing up
of large meteorites with "science," because cutting a meteorite
doesn't mean that more will go to an institution. In most cases,
dealers give the same small samples to science because they want to
sell as much as they can.
I know, there are exceptions. Most cases, though.
The criticism and condescension exhibited by some meteorite
collectors over
the collecting or curatorial preferences of others leaves me feeling
uncomfortable.
Condescending? I'm not trying to be. I'm legitimately worried by
this change that's taking place. People seem genuinely more
interested in the money of meteorites than what got me interested in
them all those years ago. Do you remember that little kid at
Butterfields, Darryl? I try to keep him in mind.
And I know, Joe needs the cash. It sucks, and he's entitled to grind
the stone into dust if he wants to - hell, he'd probably get more out
of it per gram if he did, selling it in mg-sized samples.
But those photos show a beautiful stone. Broken or not, I wouldn't
cut it.
And it's not going to science, so that's no justification whatsoever.
Jason
On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 6:18 AM, Darryl Pitt <[email protected]> wrote:
I would prefer not getting into this fray, but I believe something
needs to
be said here. While I also personally prefer complete specimens:
--Meteorites are necessarily subdivided to assist researchers in
their work;
--No true meteorite lover would thwart such research by preventing
the
subdivision of their specimen;
--Joe's stone was already subdivided by atmospheric forces. It was
incomplete and I do not comprehend why the supposed largest stone
needs to
be preserved as found;
I am personally in awe of those singular specimens which I believe
can be
framed as "natural sculpture from outer space." But that's just
me. The
comparison of Mineral Point to the Mona Lisa (chasing the
alliteration) does
not hold up to scrutiny. Meteorites are not paintings---which are
typically
not cut apart, except by art critics.
The criticism and condescension exhibited by some meteorite
collectors over
the collecting or curatorial preferences of others leaves me feeling
uncomfortable.
Wishing everyone a terrific weekend / Darryl
On Apr 30, 2010, at 1:00 AM, Jason Utas wrote:
You don't seem to understand; I don't care about the price; $60/g is
$60/g, and I wouldn't buy any slices for $10/g. Well, at that
price,
I might get some to resell, but I wouldn't keep them in the
collection
-- it's not what I collect. Prices on this fall will...fall, as
they
always do, and they'll likely settle in the $20/g range, as they
usually do.
Prices in the initial few weeks to months are always irrationally
high
- that's something I've come to accept over the past few years.
You're simply advocating collectors' right to a piece of the fall,
which I sympathize with to an extent - yes, I would like a piece
too.
But I wouldn't cut up a beautiful 300g stone to accomplish that
goal.
What I'm peeved about is the idea that there are people here who
"love" meteorites and yet who see nothing wrong with cutting a
beautiful stone up.
They will ask for $60/g for their "dream" stone, and claim that it's
priceless in the next email.
There's a reason the Louvre isn't taking a pair of shears to the
Mona
Lisa, and asking $1million/cm^2.
Yeah, they'd get more than it's "worth" ($4 billion, 81 million at
that price per square centimeter. Ok, maybe it's worth more than
that. It doesn't lessen the relevance of the analogy.).
...But all you'd have to show for it are a bunch of little bits
indistinguishable from all of the others.
$500/g, $60/g, $0.50/g, it's all the same.
Little slices of rock from a stone that used to be beautiful.
They're worth nothing to me.
Jeff titled his recent movie "The Wonder of Meteorites." Perhaps we
should look at them with a little more wonder, and a little less
"gotta catch 'em all" mentality. Unless I'm lucky enough to head
over
to WI in a month or so with my dad and we happen to find a stone, I
doubt I'll ever own one.
And I'm fine with that.
Regards,
Jason
On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 9:28 PM, Gary Chase <[email protected]>
wrote:
Now we have everyone complaining that Joe cut up his stone and
sold it
for $60 a gram. WTF? that sure is a lot better than $500 a gram
and did
some collectors a favor by allowing them to acquire this fall at
a much more
reasonable price than "meteoritemen" inflated prices.
Wishing for a second season of Meteorite Men? Be careful what
you wish
for. If you did not like the prices of this fall just wait until
after
season 2 of this train wreck.
Gary
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