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.95" Lunar Meteorite (8.35 g) - NWA 13974
This is a .95" wide (8.35 gram) lunar meteorite, NWA 13974. This piece was a surface find, having a brown desert patina, while fragments found just below the surface are white.
About NWA 13974
Lunar meteorite NWA 13974 was discovered in 2021 when it was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Temara, Morocco and classified later that year. It was collected from the Western Sahara. The find consists of individual stones ranging from 1 to 800 grams, totaling about 7 kilograms. Stones found on the surface have a shiny brown-black desert patina with circular pitting caused by weathering, while stones collected just below the surface have a whitish exterior. When cut, the interior is darker gray with a brecciated texture characteristic of lunar meteorites.
Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Lunar Meteorite NWA 13974
Lunar meteorite NWA 13974 was discovered in 2021 when it was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Temara, Morocco and classified later that year. It was collected from the Western Sahara. The find consists of individual stones ranging from 1 to 800 grams, totaling about 7 kilograms. Stones found on the surface have a shiny brown-black desert patina with circular pitting caused by weathering, while stones collected just below the surface have a whitish exterior. When cut, the interior is darker gray with a brecciated texture characteristic of lunar meteorites.
Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Lunar Meteorite NWA 13974
Moon Rocks... On Earth...
Think the only moon rocks on Earth are samples brought back from Apollo missions? Think again!
Lunar meteorites are formed like other stony (chondrite) meteorites, but they were ejected into space by meteorites and other celestial bodies hitting the moon. Almost all lunar meteorites are brecciated amalgamations of feldspathic and basaltic rocks commonly found on the Moon's surface.
Lunar meteorites are pretty rare to find on Earth: the vast majority of meteorites are from the asteroid belt, and less than 1 percent of classified meteorites are lunar in origin. The total mass of all known lunar meteorites is probably less than 1,000 kilograms. Owning a piece of the moon is a pretty rare accomplishment!
One reason they are so rare is because lunar meteorites superficially look just like earth rocks. Even a true meteorite expert would not recognize a lunar meteor laying on the ground among earthly stones. Lunar meteorites have only been recognized in places naturally devoid of rocks, like sandy deserts and ice sheets. In fact, there has never been a lunar meteorite classified from North America, South America or Europe. Most are found in the Sahara Desert (Northwest Africa), Antarctica, or Oman. All Antarctic meteorites are governmental property so they cannot be privately attained.
Think the only moon rocks on Earth are samples brought back from Apollo missions? Think again!
Lunar meteorites are formed like other stony (chondrite) meteorites, but they were ejected into space by meteorites and other celestial bodies hitting the moon. Almost all lunar meteorites are brecciated amalgamations of feldspathic and basaltic rocks commonly found on the Moon's surface.
Lunar meteorites are pretty rare to find on Earth: the vast majority of meteorites are from the asteroid belt, and less than 1 percent of classified meteorites are lunar in origin. The total mass of all known lunar meteorites is probably less than 1,000 kilograms. Owning a piece of the moon is a pretty rare accomplishment!
One reason they are so rare is because lunar meteorites superficially look just like earth rocks. Even a true meteorite expert would not recognize a lunar meteor laying on the ground among earthly stones. Lunar meteorites have only been recognized in places naturally devoid of rocks, like sandy deserts and ice sheets. In fact, there has never been a lunar meteorite classified from North America, South America or Europe. Most are found in the Sahara Desert (Northwest Africa), Antarctica, or Oman. All Antarctic meteorites are governmental property so they cannot be privately attained.
TYPE
Lunar (Feldspathic Breccia)
LOCATION
Morocco
SIZE
.95 x .79 x .50", Weight: 8.35 grams
CATEGORY
ITEM
#265482
