| 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. In the opinion of this author, suspect 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. |
EMAILS - eBay seller 'uncometeorites' |
| Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 5:01 PM, eBay Member: magellon wrote: Dear uncometeorites, Hi, I don't see your org listed with other classifying institution in the MetBul, so who is doing the classifying and the pairing? Do you have any independent verification to prove these are even meteorites? If so, please inform. Thanks, magellon |
| from Steve Curry to thesuspectmeteorite@gmail.com date Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 8:56 PM subject Re: magellon has sent a question about item #120550918828, ending on Apr-07-10 06:40:06 PDT - UNCO Lunar Olivine-Pyroxene Meteorite Good Evening Magellon; Thank you for your inquiry. Our organizations, "Uncompahgre Meteorites," the "Uncompahgre Meteoritic Association Cooperative" and the "Osirius Foundation" are new. Our goal is to preserve & protect properties that comprise a major strewn field in Western Colorado; in order that these meteorites benefit the community as a whole. The Osirius Foundation will be the philanthropic arm of both UNCO & UMAC. We look to share the bounty to as many people in need as is possible. We currently have meteorites being analysed by as many public university research centers across the country as we can find to do the analysis. As you know, this is a daunting task, as most university labs are busy with higher priority contracts from NASA. We have also had earlier specimens analysed by Actlabs of Ontario, Canada. The results, of course, were right on the money for Martian & Lunar, along with a variety of Asteroidal meteorites. There have been a number of impact events in this region, with the most recent some 1500 years ago. As for final classification, this will be assigned to the International Meteoritical Society. Both analysis and classification will, most definitely, take some time. Our first specimens should have their classifications within the year, or perhaps sooner. In the meantime, we are well qualified to use the term "Provisional" for all identified specimens. Having completed our petrological & geochemical examinations, as to their compositions and origins, we are confident that further analysis & classifications will only confirm our judgments. If anyone would like to do their own work, as in sending "Provisional" stones off for analysis, they are welcome to do so with the complete confidence that what they purchased, are indeed what we've determined them to be. We continue to honor the science and legendary work of Harvey Nininger, Richard Norton, Lawrence Chitwood, Jim Kreigh and other professional meteorists. We will not be politically or financially influenced to ignore the science for personal gain or profit, as are so many institutional & "web-celeb" scientists who are at work in this field today. Our personal and professional integrity, along with our sincere scientific sense of curiosity & discovery will never be compromised. If you should ever need assistance in identifying a suspected meteorite, we will be happy to help you out. It is really not "brain science," but it does take a certain amount of knowledge & discretion. A good microscope & excellent references are all one needs for identification & analysis. We will call this the "Harvey Nininger" method of meteorite identification. Electron microscopes, color spectometry and all the computer assisted, high-tech equipment are helpful, but not necessary, as so many institutional planetary geochemists would have you believe. They are simply protecting their high-salaries & their off-shore retirement accounts. These are the same "experts," that will tell you that meteorites are "rare," even though they are not. If everyone knew how "un-rare" meteorites really are, these "experts" would not have a job. Please supply only "scientific proof" if you disagree! Best Regards; Steve Curry; President & Founder UNCO Meteorites Uncompahagre Meteoritic Association Cooperative |
| from Ken Newton to Steve Curry date Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 5:16 AM subject Re: UNCO Lunar Olivine-Pyroxene Meteorite Mr. Curry, Thank you for your reply. If I may ask more questions to clarify your response?: >Our organizations, "Uncompahgre Meteorites," the "Uncompahgre Meteoritic Association Cooperative" and the "Osirius Foundation" are new. Are these registered legal entities? If so, please provide 'where and when' they were registered so at least that can be verified. Who works for these 'organizations'? >We currently have meteorites being analysed by as many public university research centers across the country as we can find to do the analysis. Excellent. Please name one or two of these 'university research centers' and provide contact information for individual(s) that can verify your Martian and Lunar claims since you provide no scientific verification. >As for final classification, this will be assigned to the International Meteoritical Society. Both analysis and classification will, most definitely, take some time. Our first specimens should have their classifications within the year, or perhaps sooner. This is rather puzzling statement and definitely calls to into question all the "provisional" classifications you claim? Actlabs does not classify. The Met Soc reviews submitted classifications. If the 'provisional classifications' claimed have been made by yourself or others not associated with recognized institutional classifying institutions, please make that information clear. If so, why are you selling suspect material as if it were genuine? Again I ask: "who (their name) is doing the classifying and the pairing? Do you have any independent verification to prove these are even meteorites? If so, please inform." Thanks, Ken Newton |
| from Steve Curry to Ken Newton date Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 11:50 AM subject Re: UNCO Lunar Olivine-Pyroxene Meteorite Good Morning Ken; I appreciate your due diligence. The Uncompahgre Meteoritic Association Cooperative is registered in the State of Colorado as "Unincorporated Non-Profit Organization." UNCO (Uncompahgre) is our business name currently being processed & registered with the State of Colorado. The "Osirius Foundation," is also under process as a "Non-Profit Organization" with the State of Colorado. This foundation is the philanthropic wing of the Cooperative. The Cooperative currently has eight "property owner" members and six selected retail outlets in the region. We are encouraging all property owners within the strewn field to join the Coop in order to protect & preserve & market & collectively profit from this valuable resource. Currently, we have meteorites being analysed by the staffs ASU , UNM and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. We've sent specimen samples to Dr. Randy Koretev, UWSTL; only to have them returned without any scientific examination or review. We've also sent samples to Dr. Michael Zolensky @ the Johnson Space Center. He has returned these samples "un-opened." Dr. Lawrence Garvie, of ASU returned one of our labeled Martian specimens, with a hand-written note stating, "Sorry, but ASU does not have the facilities to determine a planetary meteorite." You should know that this is not correct! We sent Dr. Carl Agee, of UNM, a variety of the Lunar & Martian specimens. He, too, returned them "unopened," without any scientific examination or reasonable explanation. Dr. Bethany Ehlmann, of Brown University, refused to pursue any level of examination. Dr. Ehlmann, of the Moening Collection @ TCU has declined to review or examine any possible Lunar or Martian meteorite. We've also attempted to submit sample specimens to Montana State University, NAU, UA (Tucson), the Smithsonian Institute, University of Central Florida. As you may be aware of, these public Universities & institutions no longer accept public submissions. I understand the Actlabs does not classify meteorites. We had Actlabs provide 4-Litho exams, at the request of Dr. Randy Korotev. I dismissed Dr. Korotev from the process, for his failure to scientifically address or scientifically examine the specimens that were sent to him. He did not even want to look at the analysis, for fear he would have to acknowledge the discovery of a Lunar strewn field in North America. I suspect, this is something NASA, Korotev & all of his colleagues wish to keep a tight lid on. A discovery of this magnitude could, conceivably, compromise their "federally funded" space research programs. I suspect, too, that this same discovery would negatively effect the "perceived values" of private collections of Martian & Lunar meteorites. Add to this the fact, that all the publicly funded university research centers, who no longer accept public submissions, are currently prioritizing work for private collectors, dealers & NASA to assure expeditious classifications, and the subsequent blocking & dismissal of independent finds & new discoveries. As for my qualifications to locate, identify, analyse, and "provisionalize" meteorites, I have a degree in Fine Arts, and I've been a producing visual artist for 30 years. I'm disciplined in studying details others are not trained to see. As for meteoritics, I am self-taught and a good student of the science. I use whatever resources are available; as in all of Harvey Nininger's publications, Richard Norton's books & publications, the available data bases of the Johnson Space Center, JPL, Field Museum, WUSTL (when credible); the Smithsonian, ASU, UNM, UCLA, NAU and UA; among other sites and sources. I have at my disposal a good microscope, chemicals & procedures for determining the presence of nickel, facilities for estimating bulk density, equipment to properly cut & polish & examine specimen slices. I do, in fact, consider myself a "Meteorist," although I do not have the pedigree or degree in this field, as yet. So, if the "Title" of "Meteorist" is more important to you than the "Merit," you might want to look elsewhere. But, if you want the pure "science" and the "science of reason & observation" as it applies to meteorites, you are talking to the right person. If you simply want to protect your political & financial interests, I will kindly ask that you do this elsewhere. Given your level of curiosity, I have reason to believe that your motives & intents are at least dubious, if not suspect. I do not know for sure, so you will need to show me where you would like to go from here. In other words, I've been up-front, honest and sincere with you. I would simply expect the same from you. It's called "professional courtesy." So let me know who you are, and what you are really after. Best Regards; Steve |
UPDATE (0ct 2010) :
"perhaps you can assist us in connecting us with a University that would be willing to examine & confirm our findings. We are hopeful that a reliable research lab, as in a University lab, will soon offer to examine, confirm and classify these..." |