[meteorite-list] Another fake name, serious business

[Jeff Grossman]

I don't know if this will help, but maybe it would be a good idea if you 
dealers start keeping good records of how meteorites are divided and 
labeling specimens accordingly.  So when you get a new meteorite named and 
you own the whole thing, begin numbering the subspecimens you prepare in 
the way that JSC does, by adding a comma and a split number.  You can then 
sell something as NWA 3133,10.  At least then an educated buyer could tell 
the difference between a "pedigreed" sample and one with suspicious origins.

I know this doesn't help for the thousands of NWA meteorites already sold, 
but maybe this will help in future cases.

Jeff

Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman
Chair, Meteorite Nomenclature Committee (Meteoritical Society)
US Geological Survey
954 National Center
Reston, VA 20192, USA
Phone: (703) 648-6184   fax:   (703) 648-6383