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

Darryl Pitt darryl at dof3.com
Tue Feb 14 17:37:35 EST 2012



Hi, 

Yes, the finder is checking out the record of previous home ownership in the immediate area. 

Thanks and all best / d 



On Feb 14, 2012, at 4:06 PM, Peter Scherff wrote:

> Hi Darryl,
> 	You have a challenging puzzle. Dr. Garvie had a similar problem and
> was fortunate to have list members recognize the meteorite by the shape of
> the cut face. Harvey Nininger did something similar with unidentified irons
> in Ward's collection. I hope that you can match this meteorite with a known
> sample.
> 	This is not the first known meteorite that has been treated
> ignominiously. The Red River meteorite was almost buried in Central Park
> http://peabody.yale.edu/collections/meteorites-and-planetary-science/red-riv
> er-meteorite . "The Basket" individual of Canyon Diablo was used to hold a
> basketball hoop in place
> http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/41069052.html . Are there any other
> meteorites that fell on hard times?
> 	Do you know anything about the history of the property where the
> meteorite was discovered? Did Henry Augustus Ward summer there? 
> Peter
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Darryl
> Pitt
> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4:01 PM
> To: Graham Ensor
> Cc: Meteorite List
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] HELP PLEASE - PECULIAR METEORITE DISCOVERY....
> 
> 
> 
> 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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