Hi Miss Ma Lan, First the page does not say it is a fake, only that it is 'suspect', the page header says: Anyone can make a claim that they have found or own an authentic meteorite. It is entirely another matter to offer satisfactory proof of verification or classification from a Meteoritical Society approved institution. The photos below link to suspect meteorites. In the opinion of this author, these auctions may lack either proper verification, credible history or photo, or reasonable supposition to qualify. This does not mean that they are not meteorites, only 'suspect' in the opinion of this author." I am the page author and my reasons for deeming it 'suspect' are:
The auction in question: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230078449668 The only classification description given is "small cube cut of Meteorite from Minsk, Belarus, Russia....Stoney-iron pallasite." There is no record that it has been classified or published in the Metbul (http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php). However, it may be a properly tested meteorite and its classification has yet to be recorded. Or it may be a fake. To me, it is suspect. Just because you see olivine does not necessarily mean it is a meteorite. For example (Shirokovsky- also 'Russia'): http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/photos/Shirokovsky.jpg. Shirokovsky is a manufactured wrong. Thus proper classification and not just visual inspection is important. Miss Ma Lan, I applaud your efforts to learn more about meteorite identification. China needs many more honest sellers like yourself. Most of the wrongs on eBay at this moment are from China sellers. Their scams do injury to all collectors and dealers. http://imca.cc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=114 Best, Ken Newton http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/mepage.html IMCA #9632 Email from Chinaren76 wrote: >Hi listees, > >Suspect auctions said this piece was a fake one. > >http://home.earthlink.net/~ebaywrong/sajan07.html > >Put down to the 9th piece > >All olivines and iron matrix are visible from the >listing photos, why fake? > >Regards > >Miss Ma Lan >Beijng, China > > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love >(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. >http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265 >______________________________________________ >Meteorite-list mailing list >Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > > ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
