[meteorite-list] Terminology, meteorite collector?

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Hola Kevin,

I think Chris is on the right  tracks in answering your question with 
meteoriticist, and can add to capture the  principle motivation of "collector spirit" 
and distinguish it from predominantly  scientific bunch, would be "amateur 
meteoriticist".

But if you come from  the rock collecting group, a.k.a., rockhounds, I think 
everyone will understand  you if you call it a meteoritehound who probably 
identify with that more than  mineralologist or paleontologist, or bone collector 
(good movie, by the way,  reminds me of a few I met in AZ).

A meteorite collector who just collects  for the need to possess, could be 
called a stamp collector when the context of  meteorites is clear.  
Unfortunately for innocent philatelists, stamp  collecting has taking on a generic meaning 
for someone who collects for randomly  filling in holes in any sort of 
collection driven principally by the insatiable  motivation to collect.  Such stamp 
collecting meteoritehounds will cherish  multiple specimens exhibiting 
different characteristics, and perhaps treat with  crust and no rust as mint (unused) 
condition, for example.  But if the  motivation is to look at everything 
under the microscope and journey through the  history of the Solar System in a 
meteoritist kind of way - it would have to be  meteoritist, or amateur met.

Finally, there is the world for someone in  it whose motivation is to sells 
for a profit.  That would be a meteorite  speculator (some might disagree with 
me and classify themselves as an investor,  though).  The most honest 
portrayal of this I saw on a certain website from  the midwest.  He called himself the 
meteorite pusher.  That's quite  apt for many...

If you principally are in it for the hunt, it is  established that you are a 
meteorite hunter.

In my own case, I consider  it an area of astronomy, so I am content to be an 
amateur astronomer who keeps a  modest meteorite collection, because of the 
awe it gives me to hold what is  several AU's away in my binoculars or 
telescope...so take your  pick:)

Saludos, Doug


Chris P. wrote:
I don't know about  collectors, but a person who studies meteorites (which I 
would hope  describes most collectors) is called a  meteoriticist.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris  L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


-----  Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Forbes"  <vk3ukf at hotmail.com>
To:  <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005  9:53 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Terminology, meteorite  collector?


>A question on the correct terminology for someone who  collects meteorites?
>
> A meteorologist is someone that studies the  atmoshpere and properties 
> related to our weather.
>
> A  numismatist is a collector of monies and related articles, coins, 
>  banknotes, shares, cheques., a notaphilist is someone that specialises in  
> banknote currencies.
>
> What, are we to call ourselves,  there must be a correct terminology for 
> what we are?
>
>  Collectors of meteorites.
>
> Kevin, VK3UKF.