[meteorite-list] UA Scientist and Private Collector Form Center toSave Meteorites

[Pete Pete]

Hi, all,

Just below are some points in this article that are definitely contradictory 
to my personal perception as to the "dwindling supply" of meteorites.

I appreciate the scientific importance of meteorites, and realize the rarity 
of some types of meteorites.
Each stone in my own humble collection is a treasure to me.

However, when considering the pictures posted over the past year on the List 
from the variety of meteorite sales conventions displaying literally "tons" 
of meteorites for sale, recent escalated space missions for recovered 
extraterrestrial materials both planned and completed, and the dramatic  
increase of  recovered Antarctic meteorites - seemingly enough meteoritic 
material available there to justify leaving a robotic drone free to graze: 
is the future supply of meteorites really in such dire straits as indicated 
by this article?

Is there data available to support the quote of: "Meteorites are rarer than 
diamonds, gold, rubies, and platinum." This one I find particularly 
intriguing.
Where could I read more about this statement?

Does anyone else think that this article is a bit alarmist?

I would appreciate being enlightened in this respect!

Love to learn, and would like to be corrected,
Cheers,
Pete

>>The world's meteorites are vanishing.

>>>>If something isn't done soon, most of Earth's rare space rocks could be
gone in a lifetime

also, from the provided link: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/swmc/


>>• We have established the Southwest Meteorite Center to preserve the 
>>dwindling supply of extraterrestrial materials

and

>>• Meteorites are rarer than diamonds, gold, rubies, and platinum

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ron Baalke <baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com (Meteorite Mailing List)
Subject: [meteorite-list] UA Scientist and Private Collector Form Center 
toSave Meteorites
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 11:03:45 -0800 (PST)



UA SCIENTIST AND PRIVATE COLLECTOR FORM CENTER TO SAVE METEORITES
 >From Lori Stiles, University Communications, 520-621-1877
Wednesday, February 01, 2006


---------------------------------------------------
Contact Information
Dante Lauretta  520-626-1138 lauretta at lpl.arizona.edu
Marvin Killgore 520-626-1294 killgore at lpl.arizona.edu

Related Web site
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/swmc/

----------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORS NOTE: Killgore and Lauretta are available for interviews at the SWMC
display and information room, Room 121, InnSuites Hotel (intersection of St.
Mary's Road and Granada Ave., Tucson)
----------------------------------------------------------------

The world's meteorites are vanishing.

If something isn't done soon, most of Earth's rare space rocks could be
gone in a lifetime.

This particularly alarms scientists who want to study meteorites -- rocks
from outer space ranging in size from microscopic particles to boulders
weighing tons -- because the extraterrestrial rocks can help them unlock the
secrets of our solar system's history and, possibly, the origins of life.

Part of the problem is that meteorites are being collected at a record
pace. Specimens that have fallen over millions of years are being harvested
in places like Africa's Sahara Desert in a few decades. Commercial dealers
are buying these space rocks at prices the scientific community can't match
and ...

<snip>

For more information on SWMC, visit the center's web site at
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/ or phone 520-626-5638.


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