[meteorite-list] Prospectors, Scientists Vie for Rocks More Precious Than...

[MeteorHntr at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/27/2006 12:58:14 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov writes:

This worries some scientists who study meteorites for clues about  the
early life of our solar system. They wonder how many new finds  they'll
get access to before the space rocks are sliced into  collectible
fragments and disappear into private collections.
 
 
List,
 
Historically, and even in the present, it seems to be it is the  "scientists" 
who have been guilty of slicing up meteorites.  
 
Personally, I don't disagree with this process as that is how one gets  
inside a meteorite to find out the information it contains.  (Imagine if  there was 
an uproar over the fact that rough diamonds were being destroyed while  being 
cut up for those who collect them?)
 
I am not sure whose fault this is that the stories are being reported as  
such?  But having a little experience with the media in the last few months  I 
know that often what is published or broadcast is exactly what is spoon fed to  
them.  And on the other hand, all too often they come up with misstatements  
all on their own.
 
The fact that we have seen these comments show up in multiple articles  makes 
me wonder what their Meteorite Center's press release is actually putting  
out?
 
I know with the Monahans story in 1998, the AP reported that the Fire Chief  
had confiscated the 7 boy's rock while it was in fact the Police Chief that 
did  it.  A minor error, one might think, but one that got copied and repeated  
over and over again because the reliable AP ran the mistake from the  start.
 
If there is an element of controversy, then they present themselves as the  
heroes with a white hat coming in to save the day, then it might make a little  
more interesting story, one that might get printed more.  But it does seem  
to be slightly insulting that the hunters and dealers are made out to be bad  
guys because they are doing the same thing the scientists have been doing for  
centuries, and still do today.
 
Has anyone asked Kilgore if this really is his position, or if he is being  
misquoted?
 
I wonder if any of the people at other institutions are insulted by the  
presentation that until the Southwest Meteorite Center came along, there  was no 
institution available to catalogue and preserve meteorites for  science?
 
Steve Arnold
IMB