[meteorite-list] Bogus indochinites? Are they or aren't they?

[Michael Gilmer]

Hi Mark,

After discussion with several list members, I agreed that the
motivation to offer fake moldavite is much different than
fake indochinites.  Given that either could be faked with about
the same effort, why would anyone manufacture a fake indochinite
that sells cheaply to start with?  If I was buying perfect
australite buttons, I'd be alot more weary.

When I received these, I examined them closely using every method
at my limited disposal - using criteria I learned on a few websites
pointed out to me by list members.  I'm confident it's the real
thing because I have a real one I bought from a trusted source
and it's identical in character.  If you want, I can mail you 
one of the ones I got from the Hong Kong moldavite faker.  I'd
be interested to hear another opinion on it besides my own.
Contact me offlist if you want a piece of it.  FWIW, I won't
be purchasing any more tektites from this particular vendor -
because of the moldavite issue, which I was unaware of at the time
of the original purchase.

Best regards,

MikeG




.........................................................
Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)
Member of the Meteoritical Society.
Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.
Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com
..........................................................



--- On Thu, 2/12/09, Mark Crawford <mark at meteorites.cc> wrote:


> From: Mark Crawford <mark at meteorites.cc>

> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Bogus indochinites?  Are they or aren't they?

> To: michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com

> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com

> Date: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 6:36 PM

> Michael Gilmer wrote:

> > I posted about some indochinites that I bought from a

> vendor in Hong Kong.  After doing some research on

> > the seller, I discovered that he had been red-flagged

> in the past for selling fake moldavite. Well, they arrived.

> And they are real.    

> I don't want to sound over-cynical here, but you sound

> like you're saying you bought material from a

> known-faker, but you're now happy that what you bought

> was genuine.

> 

> Surely either the known-faker statement is inaccurate, or

> the now-known-genuine claim is at best dubious?

> 

> ?

> 

> -- Mark's Meteorite Pages: http://meteorites.cc