http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=68415
Officials Warn Of Fake Meteorites Being Sold Seth Muller Arizona Daily Sun June 25, 2003 Staff members of the Arizona State University Center for Meteorite Studies are warning people about sales of rocks reported as meteorites, which are originating from northern Arizona. Blane Comeaux with the ASU meteorite program said that he received rock samples from Patti Harwood of Eureka, Calif., and she asked for the staff to verify the rocks as meteorites. Comeaux said that the samples were not from space, but instead a terrestrial, non-valuable rock known as magnetite. Comeaux reported that a man from New Mexico also purchased $400 in rocks he thought to be meteorites, when in fact they were magnetite rocks. He said that both people purchased the rocks from a dealer in the Holbrook area. In a phone interview, Harwood said she visited a shop in Holbrook in September 2001, and she traded $1,200 worth of fossils she had for two supposed meteorites. Recently, she purchased a meteorite with certificate of authenticity from a man in California for $300, and noticed a difference in appearance. She decided to send the suspicious rocks to ASU for authentication, and received a letter from ASU with the findings. Authorities in the Holbrook area reported that they did not have any investigations going on concerning the sales of fake meteorites. Comeaux said that meteorites are identified by polishing down a sample and looking for reflective nickel-iron specs. He said that magnetite rocks are commonly mistaken for meteorites. The space rocks have become big business. It's not unusual for a person to pay upwards of $15,000 for a meteorite. Comeaux recommends potential buyers ask to see a letter or certificate of verification before purchasing one. ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
