[Rockhounds] Moon Rocks for Sale

[larryrush at att.net]

With this interesting theme of Moon Rocks, I guess it's time I told my
little story as well....

Some years ago, I was approached by an individual (let's call him Ed) who
wanted me to verify that the rock in his possession was indeed a moon rock.
Intrigued, I invited him to my house, with his prized possession. He
explained that a close relative was employed by NASA and was an officially
close and personal supporter for the astronauts.
Indeed, he produced strong evidence to that effect. (I have to be a bit
vague in this whole essay, since I am still leery of the liabilities for
him, and me).

It seems the astronaut gave this rock to Ed's close relative as a gift
before leaving NASA. The relative bequeathed it to Ed., telling him it was a
moon rock. 
I certainly was not any kind of expert on lunar rocks, and after looking the
piece over for quite a while, and doing what basic tests I could , proved
that point to him and myself!
But, my background in Petrology was enough to make me curious, as this rock,
like many terrestrial ones, had features that could have been lunar in
nature. 
I tried to do some research on that flight, where it landed, and the rocks
there, but that was not very helpful. 

I took some photos, and after more conversation, I told him that I didn't
know where it came from, but it  possibly came from an area in the US where
the astronauts had been training.
Mostly, I tried to convince Ed that the security surrounding lunar material
would certainly make it very difficult for anyone to steal a good-sized
chunk of it. Also, it was a crime for him to have it, if it was real.
At about that time, I got a bit nervous myself, even to be a witness  or to
be involved in a possible federal crime. I could have referred him to a
Yale University prof. nearby, but didn't want to get in any deeper than I
already was. 

I didn't want to incriminate him (or me!), so he left with not much help
from me. I resolved to forget the whole episode, and not to repeat it to
anyone, until now. 
I have never heard from him again, and haven't heard of any new stealing
news, and the astronaut is dead, so I think it's safe to assume that Ed got
the message, and stored his "Moon Rock" away, along with his interesting
story!
It might make a good story for his grand-children, but I'm sure it would be
fiction!


Larry Rush
BS Geology
ConnRox Minerals
Guilford, CT



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