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.
Hello Everyone,
Some things in this world are only monetarily valuable while others have
only scientific value. Naturally there are things in this world that have
multiple values, each in the eye of the beholder. Meteorites are clearly
one of those things. To a scientist they are the building blocks to
understanding an origin beyond the scope of all things. To a treasure
hunter they are the elusive big game warranting a lifetime of exploration in
anticipation of that climactic discovery. To the collector they inspire
infinite awe and provocative theory. Not all people that drive a particular
car drive it for the same reason. Some like the way it looks, other the way
it drives, others it's reliability, and others it's practicality.
I am the treasure hunter, with a bit of both scientist and collector in me.
I strive to make the discovery. That's what I live for. I can certainly
appreciate the scientific value of a meteorite. Moreso, I can appreciate
that someone else out there lives to study it. And that yet another person
wishes to possess it in it's simplest form, or otherwise. Personally, I
hate to see meteorites chopped up into tiny pieces, it completely ruins my
appeal to collect one. However, that's what it takes to get a meteorite
into the hands of most collectors and educators. Knowing that, I find
solace. Dealers are the ones who facilitate that process, i've got nothing
against them.
The truth is that we all need each other to function the way we do in order
to maintain a balance. The collector needs the scientist in order to
authenticate the specimen. The scientist needs the hunter in order to
maintain the best possible volume of incoming specimens. And to complete
the circle, the hunter needs the collector in order to maintain his ability
to pursue his treasure. We are each rewarded differently, but we are each
rewarded none-the-less. Like any market, there will be good times and bad
times and not all things will go our way. But that's where the balance
comes from. I hope that in spite of the bad times you all still realize
that your contributions to this field, whether they be science, exploration,
education, or preservation, have been the building blocks to a healthy and
dynamic entity. And for that matter, thank you all.
George Nicula
So why aren't 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. I've 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 aren't 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) don't 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 they've 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 can't 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 weren't even aware that it was a meteorite. It had obviously
come
from someone's 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 collector's 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 doesn't 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 shouldn't
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
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