[meteorite-list] The Trials and Tribulations in Dealing with Landowners

[Jeff Grossman]

Why don't we discuss the real issue with this thread?  Is nobody else 
offended by the idea of destroying meteorites for commercial gain?

I do realize that the scientific value of Brenham pallasites is 
extremely low. Many hundreds of kg are held by museums, so chances are 
that the destruction by dealers of a few hundred kg more to extract the 
olivine will not result in irreversible harm to science.

But what if some cult placed a high value on ritually consuming 
Martian/lunar meteorites or angrites, or CAIs, and the price for 
powdered meteorites skyrocketed?  Would it be ethical to destroy these 
meteorites for profit?  And, are such practices harmful, in the 
long-run, to both science and the avocation of meteorite collecting?

A large part of the tension between the scientific and collector 
communities, including the creation of much-reviled export and ownership 
laws in some countries, arises from the perception that national 
scientific treasures are being lost.  This sort of practice by dealers 
could make the situation so much worse.

Jeff


On 2/21/2011 5:59 AM, JoshuaTreeMuseum wrote:
> The space gems need to be marketed to high profile fashionistas like 
> Lady GaGa, Kendra, Paris Hilton and the Kardashians. With Kim and 
> Khloe flashing those babies as they hobnob with the crowned heads of 
> Europe, the demand will grow like wildfire. Soon every rock star and 
> Hollywood actor will want one. Justin Beiber will pierce his nose to 
> sport a space jewel! Elton John will have them set in a fancy-dancy 
> pair of specs. Steve will be out of debt in no time.
>
> ------------------------
>
> Phil Whitmer
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