[meteorite-list] BLM and Meteorite Recovery Policy

[Adam Hupe]

Wake up and smell what you are stepping in, Michael!  I think we are nearly through collecting meteorites, at least on public land.

Remember, I saw my last hobby, Treasure Hunting, destroyed a few bad apples in the very same manner decades ago. I remember the good old days when you could swing a metal detector around without being treated like a common criminal.  


Sure, nothing attracts the federal governments attention like the words 
"treasure" and "big bucks" splashed all of over their television screens.   Throw in the cash register and add the sound effect "Ka-chinnggg" and 
you have a winning combination for attracting the feds.  They claim 
that is why they felt it necessary to clarify (rewrite) the laws in the Meteorite 
Recovery Act 2012.  Have you even read it?

Due
 to the actions of a few, I will never again have the opportunity to cut
 a 10 pound plus meteorite found on public land.  I fondly remember 
reactivating the "Judge" (a 24 inch Highlands Park diamond saw) and 
cutting the 26 pounder found by the Count here in Nevada.  I might as 
well mothball the Judge or sell it to a lapidary farm since anything 
over 10 pounds has to be left in the field considering 89% of the land 
here in Nevada is under federal control 

Something got the BLM's attention  What else could it be other than the media? Why else would the give %@#*?

Adam



________________________________
From: Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net>
To: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>; Meteorite List <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> 
Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2012 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] BLM and Meteorite Recovery Policy

Perhaps we should all stop collecting & selling meteorites. Also, stop
giving to, selling or trading with institutions.
        All of these things "bring attention to" meteorites and the fact
They are collected and valued by a very small few.
        Michael

On 12/2/12 2:40 PM, "Adam Hupe" <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Martin,
> 
> I don't see how I can be wrong when I am basically quoting what was  stated
> the Meteorite Recovery Act.  I avoid the press and have turned down more
> interviews that I have accepted.  If the first question out of a reporters'
> mouth is "how much is it worth?", I usually end the interview.  When we are
> talking about a key piece, I will quote a price so that they do not try to
> appraise the piece themselves which has happened numerous times in the past. 
> I find it best to avoid the media.
> 
> 
> It states right in the Recovery policy that "recent media attention
> has increased public interest in meteorites as well as confusion"
> 
> Here is the exact context:
> 
> "However, recent media attention
> has increased public interest in meteorites as well as confusion about
> the legality of and limits to casual and commercial collection. Courts
> have long established that meteorites belong to the owner of the surface
> estate."