Dear List Members, I agree, there are a lot of meteorites with saw marks ruining an otherwise good looking appearance offered by dealers. I see no reason a dealer should not invest in a diamond lap and use it other than trying to save money and time to increase profits. Yes, it cost money and the material losses add up but it is important for the following reasons:
If a new collector purchases a poorly prepared specimen he may not appreciate the true beauty of meteorites and be turned off to collecting any more. Viewing of characteristics on a polished surface is far better than one with unsightly saw marks. If a dealer does not polish he or she probably does not take the time to dry out specimens cut in water. On the same note, they probably do not dissolve the oil left behind by the saw with ethyl alcohol ether. A slice with saw marks can not be wiped off properly after handling. The chemicals (sweat) left behind from touching a specimen will be trapped in the saw grooves causing metal to corrode and the matrix to become stained. Some dealers say only one side of a slice is viewed so only one side needs to be polished. I disagree, the customer is paying for a prepared slice and this means both sides should be polished for the same reasons listed above. I enjoy preparing specimens because it is part of my avocation. Polishing meteorite slices I find to be relaxing. There is nothing like seeing a properly prepared slice under magnification for the first time or the 10,000th time. Each surface is different and deserves decent preparation. We have never sold a cut specimen that was not polished on both sides except on a very rare occasion like a Nahklite which would turn to mud if such an attempt were made. The only excuse I see is if something is extraordinarily rare and a scientist advised against polishing it as has been the case on a few planetary meteorites we have worked on. Other specimens can be stabilized so there is no excuse for not polished cut examples. Sorry so long winded about this. Poor workmanship has always bothered me. All the best, Adam Hupe The Hupe Collection IMCA 2185 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Heinen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 8:46 AM Subject: [meteorite-list] meteorite slices > Dear listies, > > what do you think about meteorite slices showing still the marks of > the saw blade, giving you even the opportunity to calculate the saw > blade's diameter? > Alas, times of mirror-finished slices sold by dealers like David New > seem to be gone. > A proposal to dealers: > Sell your slices or partslices > a-quality: polished surface > b-quality: sawed surface. > Most meteorite collectors don't have grinding or polishing tools and > are collecting meteorites also for the aesthetics of a > mirror-finished surface showing fine details. > A partslice showing saw marks is something very ugly. Some collectors > seem to sublimate this ugliness by the thrill to held something > extraterrestrial in their hands and are not demanding for a quality > finished surface. > > My 2 (Euro)cents, > > Guy Heinen > > ______________________________________________ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list