This is in response to the posting Stop thieves! Meteorite marauders of Norway! by Michael Mazur. In his posting, Mr. Mazur says There aren't many of us but I'd like to think that we're not thieves who don't care about science as is implied by the article. If you disagree with Elen's proposal, maybe a gentle note explaining how you think meteorite collectors and dealers can and do help science would be a good idea.
I am a scientist, not a collector or a dealer, and I see a bit of both sides of this issue. It is true that many meteorites have been found by dealers/hunters that would have just sat on the ground otherwise, as scientists do not go out into the field to search for meteorites (with the exception of Antarctica). It is also true that in general, a type specimen of each meteorite is deposited in a repository during classification, making this material available to scientists for research. I say in general, because some of the repositories are private collections and it is not clear that this material will be available to scientists in the future. So why arent scientists jumping up and down in happiness. Well, for one thing, not all of the material that is found will ever be seen by a scientist. A lot of meteorites are being sold without being classified. Ive received more than one request from a person who bought a meteorite off of e-bay with a provisional NWA number, who wants their sample classified. As these are whole stones, with no material missing, it is clear that someone requested a provisional number, just for the purpose of being able to sell a named meteorite. Some of these may not even be meteorites. Additionally, scientists arent happy about the current system because some of the dealers/collectors have been known to lie about important information (such as when and where a sample was collected). Also, most public repositories (museums and universities) dont have funds to purchase samples, and so cannot compete with dealers when a fresh fall occurs. It is important to study fresh falls quickly, before theyve experienced significant terrestrial weathering. While some dealers/collectors are very generous about donating substantial amounts of material to an institution for study, others are very reluctant to give even the minimum 20 grams require by the Nomenclature Committee. For large-scale breccias (think Portales Valley), a 20 gram sample gives a very misleading view of the entire meteorite. Also, as many analytical techniques are destructive; if only 20 grams is available to scientists (who cant afford to buy samples), then that sample is unlikely to be thoroughly studied. Finally, private collections can be lost when the collector dies. I recently had someone come in with a fist-sized piece of Canyon Diablo that they had bought for $3 at a garage sale. It had no information the people selling the meteorite werent even aware that it was a meteorite. It had obviously come from someones collection. Also, recently a private collector here in Oregon died unexpectedly, without leaving a will. He was a bachelor with no close relatives. One of the dealers from whom he had purchased meteorites was aware that the man had wanted to leave his collection to a museum. Distant relatives called me in to help identify samples. The samples had gotten jumbled and separated from their labels, I suspect when the relatives were looking through the samples. The collector had a catalog (without photographs), and we were able to match most of the samples to the descriptions in the catalog, although a handful of samples remained unidentified. The collectors relatives then sold off all of the material. They may or may not have included correct information with the samples. So, I suspect that unless ALL dealers become more generous with the amount of samples they donate (particularly for falls to local institutions), they will find that more and more countries are going to place restrictions on the ability of dealers/hunters to purchase or collect samples. Unfortunately, it only takes one or two bad apples to give all dealers a bad reputation. And if you are a collector who values your collection and doesnt want to see your material broken or sliced up and sold on e-bay, then you should write a will, directing what should happen to your collection when you die. If you intend to leave your material to an institution, you should leave a copy of your will with someone (curator?) at that institution. And you shouldnt wait. While we would all like to die of old age, accidents happen. Melinda Hutson, curator Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory Portland State University Department of Geology 17 Cramer Hall, 1721 SW Broadway Portland OR 97207-0751 Phone: 503-725-3372 Fax: 503-725-3025 ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
