SUSPECT* METEORITE AUCTIONS

* 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, the photos/links of auction items below lack either proper verification, credible history or photo, or reasonable supposition to qualify as meteorites. This does not mean that they are not meteorites, only 'suspect' in the opinion of this author.
He's Back! Auctions by Montabongos


MAGNETIC ROCK " METEORITE

BIDDERS NOTE: Item 260549905723 was purchased/tested. Rock is Magnetite - NOT a meteorite!!! (Red is not rust but red clay).


Streak test = black streak
Auctions by 'countryjoe1968'
(He's back again trying to convince bidders that magnetite is a 'good deal')

POSSIBLE METEORITE IRON ORE MAGENITE FROM BARSTOW

countryjoe1968 states "MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF METEORS COULD MEAN A GOOD DEAL FOR YOU IF YOU ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE. TAKE ADVANTAGE BEFORE I FOUND OUT MORE."


COMPARE Magnetite Photos

Seller 'coppersilver101' auction
67lb>ULTRA RARE Meteorite of Iron & Nickel

Seller (knowledgeable of metals) gives no indication that this item has actually been tested for "iron and nickel'. Meteoritic claims are based on story of a passerby 'geologist' with no written proof offered. If this were a $$$ diamond, would you not expect a competent written appraisal? So what can you deduce?
Seller 'scottfromm' auctions
Meteorite Tektites Rare Magnetic Sandstone

This seller admittedly offers no proof to back his meteoritic assumptions.

SEE: LIMONITE and More

Auctions by 'supercometta' alias 'alice-net' and 'rowina-net'



The name-changing seller has sold dozens of these using the same single photo. What does that tell you? Seller has not disclosed (even though he/she has been asked more than once) any verifying info concerning once claimed tests (no longer claims items tested).

Note: IMCA member #6135 left this feedback:
"NICE TRY BUT THIS IS NOT A METEORITE!!!!! BUYERS BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Buyer: quietstorm2476 Jul-27-09 22:10
Massive Meteorite 103.20 Carats ¢.99 No Reserve!!!!!! (#250457867730)

SEE: MOQUI MARBLES

Seller "gp56"

"unclassified meteorite mohave dessert"

This outrageous auction ($44K) is not even a meteorite! (compare: magnetite photos) Even bad auctions can serve as an example for both sellers and buyers of what not to do.

Auctions by "4539gabriel"

"unclassified meteorite mohave dessert"



This seller has has not responded to requests for better photos and/or the reasons for his/her belief that these are authentic meteorites. "Feedback as a seller" confirms past problems with communication reported by 4 out of 23 registered buyers. Meteorite sales are trust based; the seller's lack of response and poor photos thus far are reasons for caution in my opinion.

9/14/09 UPDATE - SELLER'S RESPONSE:"because i belong to a gem club and all the experts that have been doing this for over 50 yrs agree best photo i have sold meteroites on ebay before and my rating is 100% thank you magellon.best picture i can give right now."

I'm glad the seller responded but still no decent photo. The seller does have 100% for the past year only. (If one looks at all his "Feedback as a Seller", one may see things from a different view.) This being a money for (suspect) meteorite transaction, I would not put blind confidence in the word or experience of 'experts' unknown without some basic proof that this was a meteorite any more than the seller would be willing to send the item to a bidder without payment.

The seller also charges $15.00 shipping and calls it "Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service."


Note for newbies: your printer/scanner can make a great photo of your rock if you scan it!
auctions by 'pearlyn75'

This Singapore seller has been selling phony Campos (Campo del Cielo) for the past year. One upset buyer wrote : "Surprisingly the seller denies anything wrong with the stones and says to return my money for the stones and also the shipping costs if my stones are no[t] Campo's. As long as I don't give him a negative feedback... ". My suggestion to new victims: Get your money back but leave negative feedback with this scammer as it may alert potential bidders to do more research. Educate yourself by looking at the other Campo auctions and compare the photos.

Ebay seller "lin440315"

Quote from 'me' page that says it all:"I recently found many meteorites actually contain fossils of Mars. They are from Mars because there are thousands upon thousands of meteorites that possess fossils of mammals. Thousands of mammals could not have lived in asteroids, for they needed a complex ecosystem to sustain them, such as water source, vegetation, other smaller animals, etc. So, they must have originated from a planet, not asteroids. Mars, rather than any other planet, is the only possible planet that originated those fossil meteorites."

'oldschool-av' auctions **

GIANT ACHONDRITE METEORITE

From Description: "The inside is like hard, dark-silver, metallic glass, not malleable.... It is a rather menacing piece of space metal...it is totally NON-MAGNETIC...$246,400...This is either going to be a HUGE find for me, or it will be known as THE BEST artificial meteorite ever found! (Even if it were a "meteorwrong" it would be THE BEST)."


Achondrite meteorite? found IN Canyon Diablo 85% crust ($5,000)

From Description: "Of course I am very careful to describe perfectly, anything I would term meteorite. I have sold many meteorites based on my field tests, all with 100% positive feedback. (Take a look)." (If you were buying a $5K diamond, would you not expect the seller to furnish an expert validation? What would you think if the seller refused or failed to do so?)

Canyon Diablo and Odessa Oxide/Shale

Note to Newbies: Shale/Oxide meteoritic iron is terrestrially oxidized to the point that it is no longer considered a meteorite and thus it is sold as shale or oxide.


West, TX Ash Creek meteorite


Note to Newbies: Micros are hard to verify. Magnetite can also be this size and smaller.




Interesting stone(s) Holbrook AZ meteorite strewnfield

Notes to Newbies: (1) The Holbrook strewn field is located near the the junction of two railroad tracks. Among other materials, slag is often used for railroad foundation and fill. (Note: Many of the China mineral dealers also have 100% feedback) (2) Compare photos of known meteorites to suspect items.


Note: No proof or independent verification is provided. eBay policy states: "If a seller cannot verify the authenticity of an item, the seller is not permitted to list it." This policy protects the seller as well as the buyer.


** - Disclaimer: While the opinion of meteorite-identification.com may directly disagree with a seller's description, the reader should NOT assume the seller to be dishonest or the seller's description to be incorrect.
Auctions by "albert_yap"

This seller has been selling similiar items since Oct' 07. No meteoritic verification has been offered for the smoothed 'magnetite-like' stones.

Caveat Emptor!:
(1) eBay has been flooded with suspect* meteorites from the following Chinese Mineral Dealers (Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, etc.), listed in the four groups below. This is a serious problem for unsuspecting collectors. These shady dealers are consistent in that (a) their stones are suspect*, (b) bidders identities are concealed (so they can't be warned). But, you can help warn your friends about purchasing from these shameless Chinese Mineral Dealers ! Why all the fakes? Perhaps these auctions are continuing indications that China has been aggressively enforcing its meteorite ban the past few years??


(2) Contrary to what you see advertised on eBay, Tektites (terrestrial glass resulting from meteorite impact), Moldavites, Fulgurites ARE NOT Meteorites (natural objects of extraterrestrial origin (meteoroid) that survive passage through the atmosphere and hit the ground) NOR are they lunar material. Moldavite is one of the more faked items on eBay. It has always been green, but the rich 'Bottle' green ('apple' green) moldavite is newly offered and is reportedly manufactured. More Moldavite Info!

 (3) Nantan/Nandan is an iron meteorite that is known for is ability to rust away to nothing, a fact that many sellers of this meteorite fail to mention. Nantan is truely a meteorite to stay away from unless you are willing to accept that the overwhelming majority of specimens will fall apart over a very short period of time. Ones that do not rust are probably shale and have NO meteoritic iron left. The huge number of meteorwrongs presented as Nantans is another reason to stay away.more info

(4) Meteoritic Shale/Oxide: Avoid auctions selling oxidized or shale 'meteorites' (Canyon Diablo oxide shale is common). Some sellers may describe the item as shale/oxide and others may not. Meteoritic shale/oxide is no longer a meteorite, it is terrestrially oxidized meteoritic nickel-iron or oxidite. It no longer contains the essential cosmic character of the meteorite. Shale items may be included in the following iron auctions: Canyon Diablo, Nantan, Odessa, Wolfe Creek ... for more info

NOTE: Scammed? Have you have exhausted attempts with the seller, eBay, and Paypal? If 'yes' and your seller shipped via US Postal Service, try this.
Protect Yourself

"Google" the seller's eBay ID and search this site before you bid.
Ask me, any I.M.C.A. member, or trusted dealer before you bid
You need 'basics' to be a sucessful collector.
Search, Ask, Study, Learn
(See 'New Collectors and Sellers Only")


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*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, the auction items above may lack either proper verification, credible history or photo, or reasonable supposition to qualify as meteorites. This does not mean that they are not meteorites, only 'suspect' in the opinion of this author.