[meteorite-list] Is this an ethical way to treat a meteorite?

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 12:23:12 -0500
Message-ID: <e51421550904081023o338e6cb6x4067efd190682f44_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Bill and list!

Note - this is my opinion only. Others' mileage may vary.

(yes, I took a deep breath before posting this.) ....... ;)

I think this treatment, used on specimens such as these is 100%
ethical and serves a purpose.

1) Campo has a massive TKW - there is no shortage of it.

2) Campo has little scientific interest at this point in history.

3) Campo is a good "commercial" meteorite - cheap, plentiful, and
available at low cost to collectors. A big, cheap, shiny, Campo iron
is a defacto outreach tool - it generates interest and may encourage
new collectors.

Taking a rusty, unstable specimen and treating it in this way is a
measure of preservation - it serves a useful purpose, which is to halt
oxidation and restore the meteorite to an unoxidized state.

IMO, treatment of a meteorite becomes undesirable and unethical when
it changes the natural appearance or state of the specimen to look
artificial or obviously altered in some man-made way. This includes,
but is not limited to, gold-plating slices for sale, some meteorite
jewelry, or fashioning trinkets or baubles that portray a "cheapened"
image of meteorites. Aesthetics and ethics will always do a chaotic
dance around each other in regards to meteorites - there is a lot of
grey area and opinions will vary. Personally, I really enjoy David
Deyarmin's meteorite spheres. But I loathe these gold-plated iron
slices we are seeing on eBay now. I realize this is a contradiction -
but IMO some end results are more tasteful and respectful than others.

Anything we do to a meteorite, as it's caretaker and handler must never -

1) take away a specimen or alter a specimen that has scientific value
or interest.

2) portray a negative or distasteful image of the specimen or
meteorites as a whole.

3) damage or alter a specimen of historical interest.

Best regards,

MikeG



On 4/8/09, Bill Hall <meteoritics at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello list,
> I have an assortment of "OLD" Campos I purchased from a
> guy who lives in a very humid climate. When I received them, they were
> extremely rusty, and big flakes of rust falling off every time I would
> even look sideways at them. I debated with trying the galvanic
> cleansing, wire brushing, shot peening, acid baths, etc. etc. or just
> slicing them up, and grinding off the crusty edges. In fact I have
> done all of these things to test pieces, with less than miraculous
> results. It was, and still is my personal belief that if the rust can
> be removed ENTIRELY, and Either soak them in trans fluid, or carnuba
> spray wax, that they will stabilize. In fact it appears I may have
> done so, but with some interesting side affects. I know many meteorite
> enthusiasts are against changing the natural appearance of a
> meteorite, with good reason, However considering the circumstances and
> possible repercussions of doing nothing at all I have transformed an
> old Campo.
>
> This process removes ALL rust, leaves small splotches of shiny fusion
> crust ( at least it sure appears to be ) and provides nice polish. It
> also appears to have stopped all further oxidation, and no sign of
> laurencite disease. I am not able to perform this process without the
> final polish, so I get stuck with a shiny meteorite. I have seen
> people go another step to remove the shine, I just kind of like it for
> now....
>
> And on another note: As Joe Dirt said to Kickin wing, "Well that might
> be your problem, its not what you like, its the consumer". I have
> shown rusty irons to people who scowl, and exclaim "why do you think
> its a meteorite!" But when I show them a polished Iron their faces
> light up in utter amazement, and will often offer $1 gram or more for
> them...........Just something to consider.
>
> Please check out the photos on photo bucket, and let me know your
> honest opinions. If the consensus is that this is an EVIL thing to do
> to a meteorite I will surly take it into consideration. No doubt it
> will make some frown, and give some hope to others.
>
>
>
> Bill Hall
>
> http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv162/meteoritepictures/
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-- 
.........................................................
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
..........................................................

Received on Wed 08 Apr 2009 01:23:12 PM PDT