While at Tucson I noticed a huge number of unclassified NWA's for sale. Some lots were going for as little as $0.35 a gram. I noticed many people buying unclassified specimens. To me an unclassified meteorite is just a rock, basicilly worthless. Of course it is a meteorite, and it might even be a fairly rare one at that. Still, it is of no scientific importance yet. Meteorite values are determined by weight, classification,fusion crust,orientation, and special circumstances (e.g. one killed a dog, or cow), sometimes the odd shape may up the value, etc..What does an unclassified meteorite's have going for it other than fusion crust and weight? So, should I assume that the starting prices for an UNWA with complete crust is $0.35? Doesn't buying one of these help science, or hurt it? After all, we all know that they are haphazardly collected by poor nomads, probably their only source of income. Still more are collected by greedy westerners with dollar signs in their eyes. Almost no data is available on these rocks (e.g. locality, TKW, how many stones were found, etc.), most pairings are lost, and the strewnfields will never be studied. This for me defeats the whole purpose of collecting and studying meteorites. The data tells the story of the rock, which is the one of the most interesting parts. Am I the only one who thinks this? Does anyone else agree that by buying UNWA's that you are contributing to the dumbing down of the science involved, and feeding the ego's of greedy Westerners who are only interested in your dollar? I can already hear the responses this email will get. Just remember that is is better to appear a fool, than open one's mouth and remove all doubt. This is a serious topic that will eventually affect the whole science, and market of meteorites. If you want to slam what I have to say, that is your right. Just as it is you right to act civil, and stop to think for a moment.- Edward R. Hodges
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