[meteorite-list] Oman notes.

[Becky and Kirk]

Amazing story Mike. YIKES!! Glad you and Robert have returned home safely!

My best to you and yours----and Robert's too!!

Kirk.....:-)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Farmer" <mike at meteoriteguy.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 10:58 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Oman notes.


> We were not allowed to keep anything other than really the clothes on our 
> backs and our luggage (except Robert's brand new metal $1200 case, they 
> decided that was just a little too nice).
>
> I lost my Iphone, Ipad, Ipod, Satellite phone, camera, 3 GPS units, and 
> many other items. It seems Ipods are mining gear.
>
> I estimate more than $10,000 in my own gear alone, not to mention all 
> camping gear.
>
> Total financial cost to me of this trip is now well over $30,000 with 
> lawyers, plane tickets, car costs etc. Cell phone bills of more than $4000 
> as all calls from Oman were made on my Iphone.  Loss at the Tucson show 
> more than $50,000 down from last year's sales.
>
> Other costs such as fear to me and my family are not possible to 
> calculate.
>
>
> I had found 3 pieces of the Dhofar 1180 Lunar meteorite on this trip, more 
> than 2 km from the original find site, exciting as now a confirmed 
> strewnfield. When the police took us into custody and began looting our 
> cars, all meteorite bags were dumped out, all scientific data lost for 
> about 50 % of the meteorites since they mixed them up.
>
> I saw the three Lunar meteorites get dumped into a pile of rocks them 
> trown in a trash bag. I tried to stop the police from mixing them all up 
> but they laughed and told me to shut up.
>
> Oman could care less about their meteorites. I am sure they were likely 
> thrown into a dumpster to tell you the truth.
>
> We found more meteorites in 10 days than the Omani/Swiss team usually find 
> in 3 weeks with 5 times the people. But I guess they need it all for 
> themselves.
>
> I missed most of you at the gem show, but no matter, will be in Ensisheim 
> and Saint Marie aux Mines show in France in June, see all of my European 
> friends there. Tucson 2012 will arrive before we know it and I will try 
> too avoid a trip just before that show:)
>
> I want to thank so many who dropped everything, taking the 3 am phone 
> calls from Oman, paying the bills, doing the gem show for me, and doing 
> everything needed to keep my wife busy and focused on getting by alone.
> You all know who you are.
>
> Michael Farmer
>
>
>
>
>
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