[meteorite-list] "Aventura del Monte Meteorite"

[MARK BOSTICK]

Hello Everyone,

Re: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6620167638

Today, I met the seller of the auction that has been in question, by me and 
several others today.  Was able to examine it, take photographs, but I was 
not able to declare it a meteorite, or a meteor-wrong.  Me and the seller 
had came to an agreement that if I thought it was a meteor-wrong, he would 
end it, and I do not at all believe he is trying to cheap anyone.  However, 
since I was unable to declare it a positive meteor-wrong, it is up to him 
what he does with the specimen.

You will note yesterday, to the Meteorite Central, I labeled it in title, 
"Mexican Meteor Wrong in Wichita".  In my many communications I have given 
it several names, including "Wichita Meteorite", but there is a Wichita 
meteorite, this was not found here, and I am associated with the Wichita 
meteorite, a very beautiful stone and so I didn't like that title either, 
nor do I have a good title for it, outside of "specimen", which is what I 
will use in the rest of this report. The owner was being elusive in my many 
e-mails with him, which further gave me suspicion, since I had not seen it, 
so after my 15-16 e-mails...I started more calling it Meteor Wrong.  Here I 
used the sellers title as I lack a good name for it.

Now I have seen the specimen and here are my thoughts.

It is my opinion that the specimen is not a meteorite still, however I would 
like to have cut a piece and do a nickel and acid test before I really could 
say much more then I am now, or send a piece off to UCLA for an opinion much 
better then mine.  Unknown irons can be funny as some of you know.  The 
seller needs money right now and although I have pointed out the advantages 
of having it classified, if it is a meteorite I could help him make it worth 
a lot more, if it is a meteor wrong, it would keep him from ripping someone 
off, as he does not have it declared as a possible meteorite.

One big problem is it failed the streak test.  It streaked gray VERY easily. 
  This is enough to keep me from buying it without further study, which 
looks like will have to happen from the buyer.  Also according to the owner 
the specimen has not been cleaned or treated in any way.  And it does not 
have the surface characteristics one would expect from a meteorite straight 
from the field.  There is also some red coloring I can't account for, it the 
owners statement of having not cleaned or treated it is correct. I commented 
on this to a few people I was in contact with and no one else seemed to see 
the color in the auction.  Magnetite and Hematite, the two most common 
meteor wrong are usually found associated with other minerals and rocks.  
And therefore many of the meteor wrongs I have seen that were magnetite or 
hematite were associated with other minerals and one thing that seems common 
to me is red coloring on parts of the surface.  Perhaps that is why it was 
easier for me to see in the auction then for others but you will see a good 
example of this in one or two of the photographs I will provide as well.

However, the regmaglypts look much better in person then in the photographs. 
  It does look oriented somewhat, at least from one view I will provide, and 
there are sections of the stone that almost appear to be triolite 
inclusions, which I will also show.  My rare earth magnet really liked it, 
giving a pull very comparable to the Canyon Diablo I brought along....one of 
several example meteorites I carried.  It also has the weight I would expect 
from a meteorite.  The most flat side I wanted a good photo of and it was 
someone difficult for my brother and another person to hold it setting on 
one side while I took several images to insure I got a good image.  I have 
also never had a magnetite or hematite stone appear as magnetic as Canyon 
Diablo. If it is not a meteorite, it is the best meteor-wrong I have ever 
seen.  These are the reasons I will not declare it a meteor-wrong.

If a list member does read this, I would be very interested in learning 
classification results, should they choose to classify it....which I think 
they should.  And I will answer any questions that anyone has directed to me 
as best I can, however for the most part I feel my role in this specimen is 
now over.  I am not the owner, seller, bidder and I am not going to try to 
have the auction ended, an option I was looking at when he was being very 
elusive.

And now, the photographs I took.  Which show its real color and are much 
better then those provided by the seller.

http://www.meteoritearticles.com/aventura.html

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
www.meteoritearticles.com
www.imca.cc