[meteorite-list] Australian Iron Meteorite For Sale

[ken newton]

A small tidbit not mentioned:
"The federal Government has classified the meteorite as a piece of 
cultural heritage and banned its export."
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0%2C4057%2C9518424%255E13762%2C00.html

That is confusing. Anyone can buy it but they cannot  leave Australia 
with it?
Best,
ken
#9632

Ron Baalke wrote:

>http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9503391%255E1702,00.html
>
>Rare space junk for sale
>news.com.au (Australia)
>May 8, 2004
>
>FOR a cool $100,000 a rare piece of space real estate could be yours.
>
>A meteorite that was discovered in a rural field in northern NSW 25 
>years ago has been released for sale.
>
>And while numerous science boffins and academics will no doubt be 
>clamouring to own the valuable space junk, only those with cash, and 
>considerable amounts of it, will get a look-in.
>
>Not only is the meteorite large in size (it weighs 11.04kg) but its 
>chemical composition has been confirmed as a "coarse octahedrite" 
>belonging to a group of iron meteorites `Group IIIF', among the 
>rarest meteorites known.
>
>Throughout the world only six other Group IIIF meteorites are 
>officially registered, one of which is the Moonbi meteorite held 
>in the Australian Museum.
>
>"It's a bit like selling artworks. Meteorites are great collectables 
>and can be very valuable for scientific or historic reasons," said 
>Lex Simshauser of Lex E Simshauser Consulting in Brisbane, who are 
>marketing the sale.
>
>"On the open market, a meteorite of this size and rarity can fetch 
>tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
>
>"It will be really interesting to see who buys it because while a 
>lot of universities and museums will want it, they are often 
>strapped for cash."
>
>The meteorite, which is currently held in trust by the Federal 
>Government, will go on public viewing next month in Brisbane at a 
>site yet to be determined.
>
>Expressions of interest to buy the meteorite close on June 16. 
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