[meteorite-list] Morocco Meteorite Meeting

From: Greg Hupe <gmhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jun 29 13:46:11 2006
Message-ID: <004901c69ba3$d6afd560$16b42041_at_Gregor>

Hi List,

I just returned from Morocco a couple days ago and the supply of meteorites
is dreadfully low, the lowest point I have seen to date. I have been going
an average of every two months the last two years and have seen the downward
trend for some time now. The supply is drying up! The wholesale prices are
going up dramatically and with this meeting in August approaching, who knows
what will happen. During this last trip I heard a couple Moroccans state
that 'officials' came by asking about stones they have sold and to who.
Interesting to say the least. Maybe they are compiling this info for the
meeting in August to justify the need to close the borders to meteorite
exportation. I also heard that artifacts such as hand axes, arrowheads, etc.
has been put on the ban list recently along with large amounts of
trilobites. I have not verified this info but with the behind the scenes
action I have seen and/or heard about, the days are numbered for meteorites
leaving Moroccan borders, whether they are from there or not.

Happing collecting,
Greg


----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Hupe" <raremeteorites_at_comcast.net>
To: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:30 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop


> It is interesting Matteo that you brought up the Casablanca meeting.
>
> Well, at least the gold rush is over in Northwest Africa. We will have
> to
> see if it is decided that new laws governing the export of meteorites
> found
> mostly in the surrounding countries and not in Morocco itself are needed.
> It seems by regulating them now that they have missed the boat.
> Collectors
> should be thankful that they once had the opportunity to add so many
> meteorites to their collections in such a short time, the greatest amount
> in
> history. One way or another this era is destined to end, maybe this
> August!
> It will be interesting to hear what is proposed at the August meeting in
> Casablanca, Morocco. We should watch the players closely and critique
> those
> harshly this time in public if what is proposed only serves to upset the
> balance or is too outrageously restrictive. We do not want these types of
> misinformed individuals (false do-gooders) adding more restrictions to our
> avocation. We have lost a lot of searchable ground the last decade with
> more countries sure to follow if nobody represents the collecting
> community
> this time.
>
> Take Care,
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "M come Meteorite Meteorites" <mcomemeteorite2004_at_yahoo.it>
> To: "Meteoriteshow" <meteoriteshow_at_free.fr>; <trifid@timewarp.de>;
> "meteorite-list" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop
>
>
>> The next to have problems its moroccans from August of
>> this year after Casablanca Meeting.
>>
>> Matteo
>>
>> --- Meteoriteshow <meteoriteshow_at_free.fr> ha scritto:
>>
>> > Hi Serge, Norbert and List,
>> >
>> > I do not know whether Serge can read the List posts
>> > at the moment but if it is so, I want first of all
>> > to wish you that the
>> > situation in Russia will improve as soon as possible
>> > for you and your friends. I really know what you
>> > mean when you say 'not rich'
>> > as dealing with such stones does not enrich most of
>> > meteorite dealers! It is more a passion and nothing
>> > compared to gold, gas and so
>> > on!!!
>> > I was quite disapointed not to see you again in
>> > Ensisheim and Ste Marie, as it is one of the best
>> > places in Europe where we can all
>> > meet each other once in a year and I sincerely hope
>> > that we will all be together again next year.
>> > Meteorite hunting has already
>> > become a real problem because it is getting harder
>> > and harder to find places where it is not forbidden;
>> > what about attending shows
>> > now?!
>> > All the best and see you next year Serge! And thank
>> > you to Norbert for having forwarded your post to the
>> > List.
>> > Kind regards
>> >
>> > Frederic Beroud
>> > http://www.meteoriteshow.com
>> > IMCA member # 2491 (http://www.imca.cc/)
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Norbert Classen" <trifid_at_timewarp.de>
>> > To: "meteorite-list"
>> > <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
>> > Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 12:09 AM
>> > Subject: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet
>> > Meteorite Shop
>> >
>> >
>> > > Dear List Members,
>> > >
>> > > Not long ago, there has been some discussion on
>> > this list about the people
>> > > of Comet Meteorite Shop, Russian dealers, etc.,
>> > and some rumors even had it
>> > > that "we won't see the Russians again at future
>> > shows".
>> > >
>> > > As you can see from the recent Ensisheim show
>> > reports, these rumors are not
>> > > true as there was a delegation of the Comet
>> > Meteorite Shop people at the
>> > > Ensisheim show, and at the St. Marie aux Mines
>> > shows. As always, they had a
>> > > great selection of meteorites from Dhofar, and
>> > other locations.
>> > >
>> > > Anyway, the Comet Meteorite Shop people have been
>> > encountering problems, and
>> > > things haven't completely solved until now. So
>> > Serge Afanasiev asked me to
>> > > forward an explanation to the list so that you all
>> > get a better idea of
>> > > what's been going on in Russia, and what the
>> > problems are actually all
>> > > about. Please find Serge's post below.
>> > >
>> > > All the best,
>> > > Norbert Classen
>> > >
>> > > PS: Since Serge isn't on the list, anymore, I will
>> > also forward your replies
>> > > to him.
>> > >
>> > > --------------------------------------
>> > >
>> > > Dear List,
>> > >
>> > > In late October 2005, me and my friends were going
>> > to the Munich show with a
>> > > lot of stuff. We were intending to go by car
>> > through Finland - we had plans
>> > > to visit the Muonionalusta site before travelling
>> > to Germany as we did prior
>> > > to the French shows in June 2005. We were stopped
>> > at the Russian-Finnish
>> > > border from our side. Prior to that we traveled a
>> > lot without encountering
>> > > any problems - we just said that we were traveling
>> > with stones and that was
>> > > enough. This time (we've noticed that later) our
>> > KGB was following us. We do
>> > > not know yet for whom it was so interesting to
>> > catch us, but that is the
>> > > fact. They said that this is a crime and arrested
>> > us.
>> > > After 2 days they let us free, but now I and one
>> > of my friends can't go out
>> > > of Russia.
>> > > It seems that it is some government idea to stop
>> > mineral business in Russia,
>> > > I do not know. I can't put a spot on somebody of
>> > Russian stone people as a
>> > > competitor who can be so angry for example
>> > personally with me. Nonsense. It
>> > > is not so much real competition here in Russia. I
>> > know 99% of all dealers.
>> > > The process is not finished yet. They press us
>> > very much. Everybody of the
>> > > mineral, fossil and meteorite people from Russia
>> > are very afraid to ship or
>> > > carry some stony goods abroad. All are waiting for
>> > the final outcome of our
>> > > situation. I know something about dino-eggs from
>> > China and the meteorite
>> > > situation in Australia. Maybe our situation is in
>> > line with that. But
>> > > certainly not that easy.
>> > > I really do not know what will happen later. But
>> > if they really will close
>> > > the Russian border for stones - that'll be a big
>> > problem for mineral
>> > > business in general, and not only for us Russians.
>> > Ok, I think that the
>> > > details about spending a lot of time in KGB and
>> > with lawyers isn't of much
>> > > interest to you, but just imagine that this is
>> > what we are dealing with now
>> > > and what we are thinking about most of the time.
>> > > It is actually strange that a small group of
>> > people (really not rich) is of
>> > > interest to the State. Our stones are not gold,
>> > not diamonds, not oil or
>> > > gas, nothing of strategic importance - you know
>> > what I mean. That's all for
>> > > now.
>> > > All the best, Serge
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ______________________________________________
>> > > Meteorite-list mailing list
>> > > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
>> > >
>> >
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > ______________________________________________
>> > Meteorite-list mailing list
>> > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
>> >
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> >
>>
>>
>> M come Meteorite - Matteo Chinellato
>> Via Triestina 126/A - 30030 - TESSERA, VENEZIA, ITALY
>> Email: mcomemeteorite2004_at_yahoo.it
>> Sale Site: http://www.mcomemeteorite.it
>> Collection Site: http://www.mcomemeteorite.info
>> MSN Messanger: spacerocks at hotmail.com
>> EBAY.COM:http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/mcomemeteorite/
>>
>> Chiacchiera con i tuoi amici in tempo reale!
>> http://it.yahoo.com/mail_it/foot/*http://it.messenger.yahoo.com
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>
>
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Received on Thu 29 Jun 2006 01:45:40 PM PDT