[meteorite-list] "Tucson Ring" Scam

[Walter Branch]

Hi Geoff,

Excellent information!  Thanks very much.  

-Walter Branch
-----------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Notkin" <geoking at notkin.net>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 6:09 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] "Tucson Ring" Scam


> Dear Listees:
> 
> This is an alert regarding an alleged piece of the Tucson Ring, 
> currently being offered for sale.
> 
> Some months ago, I was contacted by a lady here in Tucson, who stated 
> that a family member had found an iron meteorite nearby. She emailed me 
> a photo, and there was no doubt that it was the real thing. I went to 
> take a look in person. She claimed the ~3 kg iron had been found "near 
> Ryan Field" but, conveniently, couldn't remember exactly where. 
> Although it was clearly a genuine iron meteorite it was, in my opinion, 
> almost certainly a Campo del Cielo, and not a particularly nice one at 
> that.
> 
> I remarked that the specimen had obviously been wire brushed, and it 
> was unlikely it had been found in that condition. With my loupe I 
> showed her parts of the original patina that remained in some crevices. 
> She stated that the iron had never been cleaned, and was just as it had 
> been found.
> 
> I explained that the only way to do a positive ID would be to take her 
> iron to a recognized lab for analysis. The specimen was taken to the 
> meteorite department at the University of Arizona. A number of eminent 
> academics looked at it, and spent a great deal of time photographing 
> it, making a cast, etc., as the owner had given them permission to cut 
> it, once a cast had been made. The owner then changed her mind and said 
> she would not allow it to be cut. Only the "new owner" could have it 
> cut.
> 
> Yesterday, she wrote to me again, saying "everyone [at U of A] thinks 
> this is a part of the Tucson Ring meteorite." She offered it to me at 
> $5,500. I  telephoned U of A today and spoke with a friend who is 
> directly involved with this matter. I was very clearly told that nobody 
> at U of A believes this iron has anything to do with the Tucson Ring.
> 
> In my opinion, this is misrepresentation at best, and an outright scam 
> at worst. As such I wanted to alert the collecting community in case 
> anyone is offered this specimen. It weighs 3,230 grams, and has a 
> flattish, tapered "scute" shape, typical of many old Campos. It is 
> bright silver (has been heavily wire brushed) and has small pits on the 
> surface, again similar to many "old" Campos.
> 
> Anyone wishing further details, please feel free to contact me 
> off-list. I have not used any real names as this is a public forum.
> 
> In this case, buyer beware.
> 
> 
> Yours sincerely,
> 
> Geoff
> www.aerolite.org
> 
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