[meteorite-list] Stolen meteorite part 2

From: Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:21:06 -0500
Message-ID: <btsnq3trjl8n9kbgb7g5j5o9mjpbp2e6lc_at_4ax.com>

Well, it seems that the $10,000 99 gram meteorite is an Imilac slice, but
someone who wishes to remain anonymous guessed (correctly) the name of the
meteorite owner before it came out, and it seems that he has a somewhat
questionable reputation

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/410972.html

Rare meteorite stolen in Keys

SUMMERLAND KEY -- A rare meteorite was stolen this week during a star gazing
party held at a Girl Scout camp in the Keys.

''It's just beautiful,'' said the meteorite's owner, Bob Summerfield of Melrose,
Pa. ``I describe it as celestial stained glass. I'm devastated. It's like losing
a child to me.''

Summerfield founded Astronomy To Go, a nonprofit organization that goes around
the country with a mission to get children excited about science. One method is
by letting the children touch rocks that have come from outer space.

Summerfield has a personal collection of about 400 meteorites valued at nearly
$2 million.

He said the stolen piece, which is the size of a 3x5 post card and extremely
rare, was worth $10,000.

NOT INSURABLE

It was also not insurable, Summerfield said, because he refused to keep it
safely locked away.

''I wanted to share it with children,'' he said. ``I'm a museum that comes to
you. And hundreds of thousands of kids, if not a million, have handled this
meteorite.''

Out of his entire collection, the stolen piece was his No. 2 favorite, behind
only a 65-pound meteorite from Africa.

It came from the meteorites first discovered near Imilac, in the Atacama Desert
of Chile in 1822. It features greenish brown olivine crystals embedded in a
shiny silver matrix. The rock looks like stained glass when hit with light.

Summerfield had displayed the meteorite at his vendor's booth during the 24th
Annual Winter Star Party hosted by Miami's Southern Cross Astronomical Society.
It's the fifth or sixth year he has brought that particular meteorite.

NOT LOCKED

At about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Summerfield closed his booth and left the meteorite
in a display case that was not locked. He put a tarp over the case.

''There are millions of dollars worth of astronomical equipment, telescopes, eye
pieces and computers and nobody thinks twice about leaving their stuff,''
Summerfield said.

He discovered the theft at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Summerfield said it's the first theft in the 24-year history of the Keys' star
party, one of the most prestigious in the country.

It attracts about 600 people from nine countries to gaze at stars under dark
skies not obscured from city lights.

''I'm just sick and heartbroken it has happened,'' Summerfield said. ``I hope I
get it back.''
Received on Fri 08 Feb 2008 01:21:06 AM PST