SUSPECT* METEORITE AUCTIONS

"Sellers may not disclaim knowledge of, or responsibility for, the authenticity or legality of the items offered in their listings. Sellers should take steps to ensure that their items are authentic before listing them on eBay. If a seller cannot verify the authenticity of an item, the seller is not permitted to list it." Authenticity Disclaimers Policy - eBay

* 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.

Auctions by 'consideritsold$'


Consideritsold$ writes "It is an Iron-Nickel meteorite that does come with a chemical analysis sheet. The meteorite is egg-shaped and measures approximately 2.05" x 1.85" x 1.59" and weighs approximately 402 grams. This meteorite is of US origin as well. I don't know where in the United States this meteorite was found." [The unusual item in the photo and the anonymous chemical analysis is from a repeat seller with many more for the unsuspecting.]

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.

'oldschool-av' auctions
GIANT ACHONDRITE METEORITE

'Oldschool-av' states, " 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" (Perhaps you can tell me why it is important to convince others of imagined great discoveries. Proof of expert validation would be more appropriate in an auction, don't you think? Unless this is not meant to be an auction...)


West, TX Ash Creek meteorite 0.21g found before rains

'Oldschool-av' states "[The crust] is the only thing remotely magnetic about the piece – and that is to me a severe oddity...I await test results from an institute." Most all meteorites are attracted to a magnet. Is it not odd that all the suspect meteorites found by 'oldschool-av' have no magnetic attraction? What institute? And same questions about sales as mentioned before: Wouldn't it be better to suspend sales until the results came back? If results are negative is 'oldschool-av' going to give buyers their money back?

Canyon Diablo and Odessa Oxide/Shale

In some auctions 'oldschool-av' lists percentages of elements of iron meteorites that has no relevance to the oxides/shale item offered for sale. (ex - "Classified as shale of coarse octahedrite. 90-92% iron, 6-8% nickel, roughly 2% troilite/schreibersite/rare earths") In reference to the item for sale, these percentages are false/misleading as they no longer apply. The original meteoritic iron has terrestrially oxidized to the point that it is no longer considered a meteorite.

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 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: Avoid auctions selling oxidized shale meteorites (Canyon Diablo oxide shale is common). Some sellers may describe the item as shale 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 (along with 'meteorite') before you bid

Ask me, any I.M.C.A. member, or trusted dealer before you bid

Search, Ask, Study, Learn
(See 'New Collectors and Sellers Only")
Study Photos in Lesson #1 (below)


Lesson #1 - Rocks with Holes: The following (1-29) are suspect* meteorites auctioned on eBay. Meteorites do not have 'holes' (no internal cavities except in a few exceedingly rare cases). Earth rocks with 'holes' are very common. Meteorites ( 30,31,32 are real meteorites) may have surface pits from ablation (#30) or weathering (#32). Double click for larger photo
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WUSTL info on Vesicular Rocks

Lesson #2

*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.