Important Natural History Auction 2017-07-30
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/29/2017
COMPLETE MARTIAN METEORITE
NWA 4783 - Martian (basaltic shergottite)
Here is a superb example of one of the scarcest types of meteorite - fewer than 50 examples are known that only small fragments are usually available on the market. It is believed that most, perhaps all, Martian meteorites originated from a single meteorite impact, which created the Zumba Crater in the Daedalia Planum on the planet Mars. In 2005 in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, a number of small individual meteorites with a total weight of less than 200 grams were found and submitted for analysis. This particular specimen, NWA 4783, was found to be a rare achondrite basaltic shergottite, formed from volcanic activity, and containing vesicular gas pockets and trapped melt inclusions, representing one of the freshest Martian meteorites ever found. Not only that but it is complete and uncut, with a finely textured fusion crust and greenish patina, about 7/8 inches long and weighing approximately 3.53 grams.
$1,500 - 2,000\n