SUSPECT* METEORITE AUCTIONS
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"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 |
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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.] |
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'oldschool-av'
auctions
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'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...) '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? 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. |
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Caveat Emptor!: (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! |
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 |
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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. |