[meteorite-list] Ad New Canadian Meteorite for sale

[MeteorHntr at aol.com]

Greg,

As I understand, the Canadian law  was put in place to give Canadian 
Scientists first shot at ALL the grant money  on research for any newly found 
meteorites in Canada.  

If any  meteorite is allowed outside the Canadian borders, it would allow 
some other  scientist or institution in another country to get that grant money.  
In  some cases that grant money could total in the tens of thousands or 
hundreds of  thousands of dollars.

I am not sure what Canadian Meteorite Researchers  earn each year, but their 
salaries can't be cheap for their employers.  

So, as long as the physical rock stayed in Canada, then no harm can be  done 
to the Canadian scientists.

Years ago, I purchased a new Canadian  Meteorite when I drove to Canada.  I 
gave it to a Canadian collector to  hold for me when I returned to the states 
to figure out what I wanted to do with  it.  I then sold the ownership of the 
rock to another American meteorite  dealer, even though the rock always 
remained, and to this day it still remains  in Canada.

I would imagine, if this meteorite is indeed an ordinary  chondrite, there 
will be little research money given to study it.  So the  scientists probably 
will not be interested in buying much of it, since there  will be little to no 
return on their investment.  

If there is  100,000 grams eventually found, they probably will not want to 
pay over $10/g,  or spend $1,000,000 if their grant money they will earn would 
be less than  $1,000,000.

The reason why the Canadians were willing to pay the one guy  $650,000 for 
his 650g Tagish Lake, is because they could make so much MORE  profit off the 
grant money to study that one.

So if any finds from the  Marsden Meteorite are submitted for an export 
permit, all the institutions in  Canada will get to stall for 6 months to 
eventually end up saying that they  don't want to buy any of them, providing that in 
the next 6 months they get more  than enough donated to them for free, or if 
someone else wants to sell them some  at below market values.

I think the real question to be asked is HOW do  they determine what the 
"fair market value" of the meteorites are?

If  Sonny and McCartney can find a buyer for $50 a gram, does that then force 
the  government to now pay $50/g IF any others are found and the finders 
choose to  request the export permit, and a Canadian institution would to buy them 
 first?   If Sonny or McCartney do not sell all of their finds at their  
asking price of $50/g, maybe they could put one of their finds up on Ebay, with  
the stipulation that the rock will NOT be shipped out of Canada, then Canadian  
bidders could help establish the retail value.  Of course, a foreign buyer  
could bid and own it, even though they would not take actual physical 
possession  of it.  

As I said before, IF the Canadian government is more than  willing to pay a 
true fair market value on all found meteorites, then this is  wonderful.  It 
will encourage many people to go out and find meteorites in  Canada knowing 
there is a reward waiting for their finds

Steve  Arnold #1
www.SteveArnoldMeteorites.com 






In a  message dated 12/5/2008 11:15:11 A.M. Central Standard Time, 
gmhupe at htn.net  writes:
Hello Mike, Mike and List,

Doesn't the Canadian government  have first right of refusal on any meteorite 
sales/purchases? I thought I  read from one of our Canadian List members that 
only after the Canadian  government, museum or such, has opted not to 
purchase a meteorite, then the  "land owner" has the right to sell the 
meteorite(s).

I'd like to hear  from our Canadian friends to see if there is a clear 
definanition of the  Canadian law regarding this.

Best regards,
Greg  

**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and 
favorite sites in one place.  Try it now. 
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)