I am Richard Wade and I take severe umbrage to the fact that I have been accused of illegal dealing in meteorites.
The heading of the email that Lew Gramer has forwarded should surely read "alleged" illegal meteorite deal!
I do however work with meteors and receive many calls concerning meteorites. Finds are authenticated and then published. This particular find is far from authentication and the preliminary results were shared with the so called owner.
There is absolutely NO underhanded dealing of meteorites from this organization whatsoever! It is in fact an objective to help raise the awareness of meteorites in Southern Africa and this observatory specializes in education and involves the public for meteor observations regularly.
A Sample was sent for authentication to USA. Members of meteorlist were even contacted to verify sample photographs.
A contract exists between the owner of the so-called meteorite and Richard
Wade which gave full permission to Richard Wade to evaluate the find: -
NKWE RIDGE OBSERVATORY
P O BOX 75201 LYNNWOOD RIDGE PRETORIA 0040
Tel 012 8110712 / 8110538 fax 8110712 e-mail richwde@iafrica.com
20 November 1999
Ref. No. NRO/002399
REPORT BACK
Mr. At & Hester Swart
Tel. 0154530 / 774
Potgietersrus
METEORITIC IDENTIFICATION AND POSSIBLE IMPACT
CRATER
Hereby receipt for meteorite sample from Mr. At Swart
to Nkwe Ridge Observatory for identification, photography, authentication
and valuation.
Area of possible impact at the farm......
Preliminary evaluation indicates very rare contextual
meteorite find, metallic type meteorite, unknown metallurgy. Found
amongst other pieces with possible date of the fall, as well as meteoritic
impact crater....
Present at meeting:
Richard Wade, Dr Wickus/Estelle Nienaber, Sumarie
Cronje, Hester and At & Estie Swart.
Received at Nkwe Ridge Observatory. Date 20 November
1999
Signed: At Swart
Witnessed: Dr Wicus Nienaber/ Sumarie Cronje Signed:
Richard Wade
The owner is very upset with preliminary results which came from a reputable organization "The opinion is, is that the green flecked impactite is probably a form of jadeite, and that the gold meteorite-like material is probably similar in form to the mineral marcasite, but is not a meteorite."
Attached is a picture of the samples and Material sent to USA are in transit back to SA.
I do believe that the person called Albertus van Wyk has a rather devious agenda and is either trying to raise ratings to his Radio Station with irresponsible premature announcements of the find or create a market for this possible strewn field and to help raise prices on a certain land offer - and hoping thereby to act as dealer to the so-called landowner.
My lawyers will be proceeding actions against certain principals in this matter.
I also notified the correct authorities in this country (South Africa) The Council of Geosciences and they have expressed that a lack of enthusiasm exists to authenticate materials and that facilities to do so are mainly found outside this country. Since last month however the position has changed and most material will be sent to specialists in this country.
Louis Barendse is the Chairman of the Astronomical Association of South Africa - Pretoria and he was involved by us specifically to oversee the authentication.
I demand an apology from the progenitors of this accusation.
Richard Wade
"Albertus van Wyk (via Lew Gramer)" wrote:
NOTE: Albertus is not a current 'meteorobs' subscriber. If you follow up, please
be sure to MANUALLY put 'vanwykaa@sabc.co.za' in the "CC:" line of your reply.Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@jovian.com>
------- Forwarded Message
From: "Albertus van Wyk" <vanwykaa@sabc.co.za>
To: <meteorobs@jovian.com>
Subject: illegal deal
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 15:15:50 +0200Can everybody please look out for two South African meteorites taken =
from the country illegally in December 1999. They are just over 1kg =
each, as big as a man's fist and crystal like or black in color. Please =
be on the look out for anybody trying to deal as Louis Barendse or =
Richard Wade. The rightful owner of the stones would like them back. You =
can contact me with any information.=20Thanks,
Albertus van Wyk - Reporter - South Africn Broadcasting Corporation
------- End of Forwarded Message
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