GroundquestMSA wrote:There's certainly no moral reason that you should get rid of them. Since you weren't involved in removing them from the cave, the only thing you need to worry about is the influence a sale may have on onlookers. If you sell on Ebay, for example, there is a real possibility that someone may get the idea that they can make an easy buck snatching formations. This is partly why there have been many interventions by cavers in the online (and sometimes legally legitimate) sale of speleothems, as can be seen by searching this forum.
First consider what is right and wrong, then consider what is legal, and worry about your finances last.
Excellent advice, and I agree.
tempCaveQuestion wrote:I have several cave formations.
They were donated to a thrift store, and I purchased them. After having purchased them, I read up and it looks like there are state and federal laws in place related to possessing and buying/selling these things.
Based on the rough condition, and that they were donated, there is a good chance these were taken a long time ago. But I have literally zero actual information about them. So I have no idea when they were obtained, or from where.
So, I have financial, legal and moral concerns. Financially, if they are worth money I would prefer to sell them because I need the money. Or, I can see about donating them somewhere, such as a school or museum. If donated, I need some way to appraise them.
I welcome all thoughts and opinions on the situation.
Legally it is unlikely that any laws have been broken, unless it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that these specific items were stolen from private property or from public lands covered by the Federal Cave Resource Protection Act or other state/local laws.
Morally, most cavers balk at the sight of cave formations being bought, sold, traded, displayed, handled, or breathed on with too much gusto by anybody. If I were you, I would either keep what you bought or donate them for educational or scientific use. The fact that you researched and found their may be legal ramifications and then you went ahead and asked strangers in the caving community for advice speaks to your good character, I think.