[meteorite-list] New Zealand fall

[Michael Farmer]

I know that yesterday a very small piece was cut off for analysis, I am simply saying that none should be cut up to be distributed to collectors. I know of course as a rabid collector that many people want a piece of this fall, but the aesthetics of the specimen demand that it be undamaged. 
Mike Farmer
If I get it I would make casts of the stone, one given to the owner, one to New Zealand for the planetarium, and others for sale. 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Matson, Robert 
  To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com 
  Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 4:33 PM
  Subject: [meteorite-list] New Zealand fall


  Hi Mike and List,

  > I have spoken to the owner and made a large offer on the stone. I sincerely hope that 
  > whoever acquires that stone DOES NOT cut it up or damage it in any way. It appears 
  > to be an ordinary chondrite with a extraordinary shape. Oriented pieces like this, 
  > especially a fresh pristine fall that went through a house should NOT be cut up. 
  > If I get the stone I will not cut one microgram from it, that would be a tragedy to 
  > desecrate such a piece. 

  It should be possible to take at least a core sample of the stone, leaving a fusion
  crusted "plug" to cover the hole.  In this way, the stone can be studied by
  scientists without detracting from its aesthetics.  Even if it's just an ordinary
  chondrite, the fact that it is a documented fresh fall is rare, and therefore
  scientifically important.  Short-lived isotopes may provide information about
  cosmic lifetime, for example.

  > We as collectors, don't really all need to have a tiny piece do we? 

  With the exception of providing a sample (as unobtrusively as possible) to
  scientists, I quite agree that the stone deserves to stay intact.  --Rob



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