[meteorite-list] New guy introduces himself with a couple of questions

[Impactika at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/28/2008 9:57:39 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,  
michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com writes:

1) The IMCA.  Is this group for  private collectors, or
just for collector/dealers who also sell  specimens?  I
was looking over the IMCA website and I read the
bylaws  - and it appears to be a group of mostly
dealers who police each other and  police the general
meteorite market looking for frauds  and
misclassifications, etc.  Is there any advantage to
joining the  IMCA as a private collector with no
intention to become a dealer?  And  if so, how does one
go about joining and getting "two members to vouch  for
you", if you are a total newbie to the field and don't
have two  vouchers?  Do I just have to bide my time and
earn my chops like  everyone else did I assume?


3) Getting specimen classified.  Is  there a preferred
place to have this done?  I notice there are  several
places that offer this service and they vary.  Is
there one  predominate service or are they all equally
authoritative?

Again, my  sincere thanks to the group for providing 
such a wealth of info and ads! -  yes, I have been
buying some of your specimens - several of you.  ;)

Regards and happy hunting!

Mike  Gilmer
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Hello  Mike,
 
Welcome to the List, and I am glad you finally decided to come out of the  
shadows. And if you have any questions, go ahead, just ask. Most of us on the  
List are usually well-behaved.
 
As for the IMCA, yes, I am Vice-President, and one of the founding members.  
The Association is open to anyone who supports the principle of  Authenticity. 
 If you have explored Ebay, or the Net, at all, you have  probably noticed 
that quite a few questionable or completely fake  meteorites come on the market. 
We try our best to educate the people selling  those and to help them get 
their "rocks" checked. Not just our Members. And we  now have close to 250 
members all over the world and they all guarantee that  they will sell only 
authentic meteorites to collectors like you. As for the 2  sponsoring members we 
require, is your "mentor" a member? You say you have  bought from several of us, 
were they members?  If you have any additional  questions please email me 
off-list.
 
As for the classification labs., most of them, and the most well-known, are  
listed on the IMCA website. Personally I have dealt mostly with the University 
 of Arizona in Tucson. But then I will be there in just a few  days.  
I certainly hope this will help.

Anne M.  Black
www.IMPACTIKA.com
IMPACTIKA at aol.com
Vice-President, I.M.C.A.  Inc.
www.IMCA.cc
 



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