[meteorite-list] Iron Sulfide Concretions Selling for 6.08 Dollars a Gram (eBay)

[Paul]

If a person wants to see an example of geological illiteracy, which is 
on par with the worst of the meteorwrongs, which have appeared on 
Ebay, they can go to the "Awesome Boji(r) Stones! Balance/Align 
Chakras!", Item number: 130101485377, at;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Awesome-Boji-r-Stones-Balance-Align-Chakras_W0QQitemZ130101485377QQihZ003QQcategoryZ19268QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The eBay web page, along with the usual pseudoscientific, mumble 
jumble about healing properties normally associated with these objects 
does correctly identify the "Boji(r) Stones, also known as Kansas Pop 
Rocks" as being concretions. However, it incorrectly states among 
many other claims, that these iron-sulfide concretions are composed 
of "iron-magnetite".

Despite the fact that the items, which are being auctioned are 
nothing more than ordinary iron-sulfide concretions, of which 
thousands can be found eroding out of the Smoky Hill Member of 
Niobrara Formation, the bidding as of 7:45 Eastern Standard Time 
had reached 152.50 dollars. Given that stated weight of each 
concretion is 12.5 and 12.6 grams, for a total weight of 25.1 grams, 
the dollar per gram cost comes to 6.08 dollars per gram.

It shows a significant degree of geologic illiteracy that some people 
are willing pay for ordinary iron-sulfide concretions, which completely 
lack any scientifically documented healing properties as argued for 
by personal religious beliefs and erode out of Kansas chalk by the 
thousand, as much per gram as some meteorites. Looking at web 
pages like this, it should not be surprising that meteorwrongs are
also a standard part of eBay sales.

It seems like anybody looking for meteorites in Kansas could make 
some money by leasing their own outcrop of the Smoky Hill 
Member of Niobrara Formation to mine iron sulfide concretions
from and selling them under their own trademarked name with 
similar claims for them having healing powers. It seems like 
iron sulfide concretions from any formation could be marketed
with the right trademarked name and suitable mumble jumble 
about them having healing powers; being useful for aligning a 
person metaphysically; balancing a person's energy field; and 
relieving their pain and there would be no shortage of people 
willing pay several dollars per gram to purchase them. Given this
type of scientific illiteracy, which pervades it, eBay would one of 
many places a person could sell them with great success.

Best Regards,

Paul

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