[meteorite-list] The Cheapening of Meteorites Continues....

[George Blahun Jr]

Michael:
      Hello.  I do understand your concern over turning meteorites  
into "trinkets" and "junk", but I think it's important to discriminate  
between the historical uses of some of this meteoritic material and  
the "dime store" variety.  While I don't understand gold plating  
etched slices, I do find some current uses of "some" material  
appealing.  Knives and coins and some jewelry are appealing to me,  
although I'm sure not to everyone.  There are also areas that are  
bound to be controversial.  Yesterday I was at the Boston Museum of  
Science and saw a piece of lunar highland rock encased in a lucite  
sphere, given to the Museum by NASA.  I would have preferred this not  
be encased, but I'm sure NASA put some thought into why this should be  
so.  Anyhow, hopefully, as you have said, no one will be bidding on  
the plated Gibeon.  However, if I knew the only piece of lunar rock  
available (legally) to me was encased in Lucite, I'd probably try to  
get it anyhow.

Clear skies

George