3 replies to this topic

[leonardovaller]

Someone asked me for my opinion on this sample he owns. He got it as a chondrite but I'm skeptical.

Iron inclusions are large and angular and the "chondrules" look more like fragments of rock held together with some kind of cement.

 

[lee14]

I agree, those are not like any chondrules I've ever seen. What it actually is, whether or not it's 'manufactured', I'd welcome an explanation.

 

I'd also be very interested in the source from which it was acquired by your contact.

 

Lee

Edited by lee14, 18 March 2024 - 06:52 PM.

[leonardovaller]

I agree, those are not like any chondrules I've ever seen. What it actually is, whether or not it's 'manufactured', I'd welcome an explanation.

 

I'd also be very interested in the source from which it was acquired by your contact.

 

Lee

He said he found it but I'm positive he bought it from someone else and he is embarrassed about having been scammed. First time I saw this piece was last year in a Facebook group and I told him that I believed it was a fake. A few days ago he looked for me and asked again by direct message. He probably does not remember me.

Here are two more photos.

 

 

I'm 90% sure it's a good fake. It was evidently made by someone who knows what a real chondrite looks like and wanted to replicate it.

[lee14]

Whatever this piece actually is, the ever increasing amount of counterfeit or misrepresented material is doing real damage to the meteorite market, for both dealers and collectors. Newcomers are particularly prone to deceptive practices.

 

Lee