This irregularly-shaped complete slice cut from a Moon rock. One face is polished while diamond wire saw marks are perceptible on the reverse. Lighter and darker zones with distinct brecciation are along the central left margin. Prominent veins of shock melt course through the bottom half of the specimen while finer veins are seen throughout. Patches of fusion crust are on the meteorite’s rim. Metallic grains originating from chondritic meteorite impacts on the Moon are in evidence. This is a fine representation of a non-traditional lunar meteorite. Modern cutting.
129 x 79 x 2 mm. (5 x 3 x 0.1 in.)

37.1 g.

Rocks from the Moon are among the rarest substances on Earth. The delivery system was an asteroid impact on the lunar surface that ejected material off the Moon and into interplanetary space. There are less than 600kg. of lunar meteorites known to exist and they would all handily fit in four footlockers. Moon rocks are identified by specific textural, mineralogical, chemical and isotopic signatures. Many of the common minerals found on Earth’s surface are rare or absent on the Moon and some lunar minerals are unknown on Earth. In addition, Moon rocks contain gases captured from the solar wind with isotope ratios very different from the same gases found on Earth. The stone from which this slice is derived is a monomict breccia composed of approximately 75% plagioclase, 10% olivine and 10% pigeonite. Small grains of metal, ilmenite and apatite are also present. The official classification and publication of this meteorite was performed by Dr. Carl Agee, the Director of the Institute of Meteoritics. A copy of the abstract published in the 104th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin accompanies this offering.

The mass from which this specimen was cut will be on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note.