[meteorite-list] Auctioneer Abuse of Meteorites was: Pallasite

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Nice Find Martin, it was nice to actually see  this new material that is 
thrilling to some listmemembers:), though there is no  real guaranty of 
authenticity offered. 

In case someone out there really  is motivated to participate, I just would 
like to express my opinion, that these  are more meteorite pimps: Only a bunch 
of thieves would appear to do this.  I guess they think with a cheap British 
(or Stagecoach) sounding name like  "Bonham & Butterfield" they add some 
mysterious value.  There are five  more meteorites sharing the company of the sample 
of the pallasite from the  Fukang locality, did you notice?  All the others 
are Nantan  Irons!!

Let's look at the economics of a sale of lot 8079, the 2.02 kg  Nantan:

If it sells for the low price of the range, $400:

$470  collected from buyer included "premium"
$70 retained as buyer's premium by  auctioneer
$100 commission retained by auctioneer from Seller
$150 catalog  picture kept by auctioneer
$30  online uploaded image kept by  auctioneer
$6 insurance fee collected by auctioneer

NET amount  remitted to Seller: $114
TOTAL Kept by  Auctioneer:      $356

Sounds like purchases on  eBay through PayPal just might offer better 
protection, as evidenced by the  Auctioneers statement of responsibility and 
authenticity:

Lots are sold  on an *as is* basis but the actual condition of a Lot may not 
be as good as  indicated by its outward appearance. In particular parts may 
have been replaced  or renewed and Lots may not be authentic or of satisfactory 
quality. 

Oh,  that's nice, and let me guess, even if it is later shown that the 
meteorite  wasn't authentic, the auctioneer will do it's best to hang on to its $356 
or a  good part of it as it is so costly to hold an auction when use a fancy  
auctioneer name.  Uh huh...into the thieves category they go, for  
irresponsible.  Of course the Seller is responsible in their book not them  they'll have 
nothing to do with responsibility, and for that the seller gets  24.2% of the 
sale procedes for a meteorite of questionable pedigree.

How  shameful such abuse still takes place, but I guess "Ye pays ya money and 
ye  takes ya chances."  I'd invite anyone to to correct anything I've  
inadvertantly overlooked.

Saludos, Doug
PS - and that misleading  comment that Esquel somehow isn't as nice because 
it has been sawed into  hundreds of pieces.  I am scratching my head on still 
on that note, as it  appears that the lot offered itself is not exactly the 
main mass either...at  less than a kilogram, but they had to add: "The specimen's 
very large size" as a  descriptor



En un mensaje con fecha 11/26/2005 6:31:08 AM Mexico  Standard Time, 
Altmann at Meteorite-Martin.de escribe:
You can buy your slice at  a Bonham's auction in L.A. on 4th of Dec.

"
Help
Flash version  Copyright © 2002-2005 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All
Rights  Reserved
Lot No: 8084

Fukang Meteorite Slice - An Important New  Discovery
Stoney Iron - Pallasite
Fukang, China
An extraordinary  discovery made in 2003, the Fukang Meteorite is arguably
the world's  preeminent pallasitic meteorite. The present cut and polished
slice is the  first specimen of this distinguished meteorite to be made
available to the  public. Displaying much larger olivine crystals than have
ever been seen  before, the superlative Fukang meteorite is in outstanding
condition; its  nickel-iron matrix exhibits abundant high quality olivine
crystals. The  quality of some of the crystals is so fine that they may be
classified as  peridot crystals, a gem form of olivine.

A brief history of  Pallasites:
In 1749 on a remote wooded ridge of Mount Emir, Siberia, the  first pallasite
meteorite was discovered. The native Tartars believed the  iron was a holy
relic that had fallen from the heavens. In 1772, Peter Simon  Pallas, the
German scientist for whom this category of meteorites was named,  visited the
site and removed samples of the 700-kilogram mass. Although it  would be
several years before scientists would accept the theory that stones  and
irons fall from the heavens, the Pallas iron was eventually recognized as  a
meteorite and identified as such. The large mass is now on display at  the
Academy of Sciences Mineral Museum.

Over the next 161 years, other  much smaller pallasites were discovered and
identified. Then, in 1937 at  Huckitta, Australia, a pallasite weighing 1,411
kilograms was found;  unfortunately, nearly the entire specimen had weathered
into iron shale,  leaving only 450 kilograms of intact specimen which is
currently in Adelaide,  Australia.

Fourteen years later, in 1951, a 1,500-kilogram pallasite was  found in
Esquel, Argentina. A private individual maintained ownership until  1992 when
it was sold and was subsequently sawed into hundreds of small  pieces. The
largest intact piece of the specimen is now less than 200  kilograms.

Not since 1951 has as large and significant a pallasite been  found as the
Fukang Meteorite, discovered outside a tiny village in  Northwestern China in
2003. The specimen's very large size, superb quality  and enormous,
high-quality crystals make it a find of historic  importance.
Measuring 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 1/8in. Weighing 910  grams.

Estimate: $18,000 to  22,000

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&sc
reen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=2651951&iSaleNo=13327&sServer=http://images
2.bonhams.com/&sPath=2005-10/10/7153424-48-1.jpg

Regards.
Martin

-----  Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Arnold, Chicago!!"  <steve_arnol60120 at yahoo.com>
To:  <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005  12:14 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] FUKANG METEORITE


> Hello  again list.I got an email from a list member stating that the main
> mass  of the fukang meteorite is at u of arizona.Man that piece looks like
>  over 900 kilo's.Does anyone have a close approximate of the TKW?I can
>  hardly wait to get a  piece.
>
>
>                                   steve arnold, chicago
>
> Steve R.Arnold, Chicago, IL,  60120
>
>
> Illinois Meteorites,Ltd!
>
>
>  website url  http://stormbringer60120.tripod.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


Saludos,  Doug