[meteorite-list] HELP PLEASE - PECULIAR METEORITE DISCOVERY....

Darryl Pitt darryl at dof3.com
Tue Feb 14 16:00:39 EST 2012



Hi, 

If the circumstances of the find are erroneous, then the question of rightful ownership and provenance arises.  

I personally think it's incumbent on us all to ask a lot of questions as it regards meteorite end pieces being found in a backyards. 

Best / Darryl


On Feb 14, 2012, at 3:18 PM, Graham Ensor wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I can't really see what the problem is as it is obviously a purchased
> or at least sawn end cut that has been left to rust...I can't see that
> it really matters where it was found....even if the story is
> bogus....as such I would have thought that it is very likely to match
> an existing meteorite and that will then dictate it's value....if it
> cannot be matched then that is when it gets difficult. Tracing it's
> history or story of it's terrestrial journey could be interesting.
> 
> Graham
> 
> On Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 6:30 PM, Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Mike...
>> 
>> ---This is a meteorite
>> ---No one has attempted to pass it off as a new find
>> ---As conveyed in my original post, the finder agreed to submit a piece of testing
>> ---I'm not as certain as you this will solve the issues presented---but it's a start
>> 
>> Best /d
>> 
>> 
>> On Feb 14, 2012, at 1:02 PM, Galactic Stone & Ironworks wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Michael and List,
>>> 
>>> My thoughts exactly.  It's either a strange meteorwrong, or it's a
>>> transported specimen being passed off as a new find.  If the owner
>>> would submit a small piece for testing, that would solve the issue
>>> once and for all.
>>> 
>>> Best regards,
>>> 
>>> MikeG
>>> --
>>> *************************************************
>>> Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Meteorites & Amber
>>> 
>>> Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com
>>> Facebook -  http://tinyurl.com/42h79my
>>> News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
>>> Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone
>>> ***************************************************
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 2/14/12, Michael Mulgrew <mikestang at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> What type of "backyard" equipment does this couple have that could
>>>> produce such a perfect cut on an iron meteorite?  Looks to me like a
>>>> previously purchased iron left out to rust a bit.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 6:42 AM, Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks, everyone, for the initial wave of responses both on and off list.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I've clarified the following two points raised below and have taken a path
>>>>> similar to what Doug mentioned (also below).
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hopefully our learning what meteorite this is will prove helpful.   Please
>>>>> circulate as you deem appropriate.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Here are the pics.   http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrylpitt/
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best/ d
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2012, at 7:06 AM, John higgins wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Folks,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sandy Hook is a national Park, regular civilians don't live there. There
>>>>>> are no 75ft escarpments in Sandy Hook. Maybe if the guy said he was from
>>>>>> Atlantic Highlands, that would make more sense..... This story is full
>>>>>> of holes, Daryl please be careful.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Best Regards from New Jersey,
>>>>>> John Higgins
>>>>>> IMCA # 9822
>>>>>> www.outerspacerocks.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> He is from Highlands, NJ near Sandy Hook.  I remembered the Sandy Hook
>>>>> reference and provided it as a general location in Northeastern, N.J.   I
>>>>> didn't know that Sandy Hook was not also a town.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 13, 2012, at 11:52 PM, Pete Pete wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> I agree with Mike, Daryl!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I'm trying to imagine a scenario of a house on a ravine, a guy finding a
>>>>>> rusty lump, and the wife persistently tries to throw the lump out in the
>>>>>> garbage(?!) instead of simply heaving it over the fence?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Doesn't track. Sounds like a scripted story.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Like we say at work - "The name's Tucker, not sucker!"
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Pete
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> No fence.  (I asked as I was also bewildered).  Reportedly found at the
>>>>> edge of an escarpment.   The wife seems honest and was the one doing the
>>>>> sleuthing here.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2012, at 3:15 AM, MexicoDoug wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> "A seemingly honest fellow from Sandy Hook, NJ came to my office late
>>>>>> today in
>>>>>> the hope I could verify what he was told could be a meteorite---and it
>>>>>> is."
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> "are honest....but I just don't get it."
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Darryl,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Either you run with it or you give it back.  But posting the pictures of
>>>>>> the etch pattern should be pretty good evidence of some of the larger
>>>>>> transported falls.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Lots of explanations could account for the meteorite (the prior owner
>>>>>> died and the rock stayed on the porch --- it's happened before ...etc.),
>>>>>> but if we listen to Jefferson, while it would be easier to believe they
>>>>>> are lying, the facts are what must be established.  What do you have to
>>>>>> lose?  If you don't want to risk time and money, just see if they'll fax
>>>>>> a release giving you permission to have it analyzed and just for your
>>>>>> own protection slip in that they represent in good faith that the
>>>>>> meteorite is their property and presented to you as an unknown for
>>>>>> verification (which you mention is what gives them the right to have it
>>>>>> analyzed since meteorites can be valuble)...
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Good luck, if it's a scam, bring it on.  Let's see those pix...After
>>>>>> all, no obvious match on the etch is great news no matter how you
>>>>>> *slice* it.  If the etch matches a large widely distributed fall, but
>>>>>> they insisted and you wanted out,you could always offer to take a nice
>>>>>> slice to pay your expenses in case it turns out to be common.  Does that
>>>>>> make sense?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Kindest wishes
>>>>>> Doug
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 13, 2012, at 10:45 PM, Darryl Pitt wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Folks,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I need your help; there is a problem here---I'm just not certain as to
>>>>>> its nature.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> A seemingly honest fellow from Sandy Hook, NJ came to my office late
>>>>>> today in the hope I could verify what he was told could be a
>>>>>> meteorite---and it is.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> This fellow said that just after he moved in a year ago, he found it on
>>>>>> the embankment of his backyard just beyond which is a 75 foot
>>>>>> escarpment.  The wife said she tried to throw the rusty thing out a
>>>>>> couple of times and both times he rescued it from the garbage.  It is a
>>>>>> medium octahedrite which weighs 4.236 kg.  How do I know it's a medium
>>>>>> octahedrite?  I could make out a feint pattern underneath a veneer of
>>>>>> rust on the cut face.  Yes, roughly speaking, this fellow found a cut
>>>>>> and prepared meteorite in his backyard.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The fellow left the specimen in my possession and agreed to allow me to
>>>>>> have a sample removed and forwarded for analysis. I advised him there
>>>>>> could be a problem here that could be readily determined---and he didn't
>>>>>> seem fazed.  While I've been accused of being naive, I nonetheless
>>>>>> genuinely believe he and his wife are honest....but I just don't get it.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Any thoughts here?   Northeastern New Jersey.  End piece.  Medium
>>>>>> octahedrite.  4.2 kg.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I'll get a pic posted tomorrow.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> All best and thanks / d,
>>>>> 
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