[meteorite-list] "Tucson Ring" Scam

[Martin Horejsi]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the warning.

You know, with all the campos and beer flying around Tucson during
Feburary, there is a chance that someone lost a campo off the roof of
their car or something like that. Heck, I even accidently bought one
the Blood auction, only to sell it minutes later when I realized I
likley could not fly home with it.

Anyway, I guess now we have to watch out for the Tucson Rong.

Cheers,

Martin



On 6/29/06, Notkin <geoking at notkin.net> wrote:

> Dear Listees:

>

> This is an alert regarding an alleged piece of the Tucson Ring,

> currently being offered for sale.

>

> Some months ago, I was contacted by a lady here in Tucson, who stated

> that a family member had found an iron meteorite nearby. She emailed me

> a photo, and there was no doubt that it was the real thing. I went to

> take a look in person. She claimed the ~3 kg iron had been found "near

> Ryan Field" but, conveniently, couldn't remember exactly where.

> Although it was clearly a genuine iron meteorite it was, in my opinion,

> almost certainly a Campo del Cielo, and not a particularly nice one at

> that.

>

> I remarked that the specimen had obviously been wire brushed, and it

> was unlikely it had been found in that condition. With my loupe I

> showed her parts of the original patina that remained in some crevices.

> She stated that the iron had never been cleaned, and was just as it had

> been found.

>

> I explained that the only way to do a positive ID would be to take her

> iron to a recognized lab for analysis. The specimen was taken to the

> meteorite department at the University of Arizona. A number of eminent

> academics looked at it, and spent a great deal of time photographing

> it, making a cast, etc., as the owner had given them permission to cut

> it, once a cast had been made. The owner then changed her mind and said

> she would not allow it to be cut. Only the "new owner" could have it

> cut.

>

> Yesterday, she wrote to me again, saying "everyone [at U of A] thinks

> this is a part of the Tucson Ring meteorite." She offered it to me at

> $5,500. I  telephoned U of A today and spoke with a friend who is

> directly involved with this matter. I was very clearly told that nobody

> at U of A believes this iron has anything to do with the Tucson Ring.

>

> In my opinion, this is misrepresentation at best, and an outright scam

> at worst. As such I wanted to alert the collecting community in case

> anyone is offered this specimen. It weighs 3,230 grams, and has a

> flattish, tapered "scute" shape, typical of many old Campos. It is

> bright silver (has been heavily wire brushed) and has small pits on the

> surface, again similar to many "old" Campos.

>

> Anyone wishing further details, please feel free to contact me

> off-list. I have not used any real names as this is a public forum.

>

> In this case, buyer beware.

>

>

> Yours sincerely,

>

> Geoff

> www.aerolite.org

>

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