AN EXQUISITE MOON ROCK — GADAMIS 004 COMPLETE SLICE - photo 1

AN EXQUISITE MOON ROCK — GADAMIS 004 COMPLETE SLICE

Sold
$ 23 940
Auction dateClassic
28.03.2023 11:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 927003
Lot 6 | AN EXQUISITE MOON ROCK — GADAMIS 004 COMPLETE SLICE
In 2022 an unusual 12-kilogram rock was found by desert nomads near the desert oasis of Gadamis, Libya. A sample was analyzed by NASA researcher and Director of the Institute of Meteoritics, Dr. Carl Agee, who confirmed this was a Moon rock — a finding confirmed by the Meteoritical Society’s protocol of peer review prior to being named Gadamis 004 and published in the journal of record, the Meteoritical Bulletin.

This does not look like a typical feldspathic breccia (see lots 9 and 27) as it is anorthosite-rich — so much so that cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase makes up 98-99% of this specimen. Gadamis 004 arrived on Earth after having been ejected off the lunar surface following an asteroid impact in the lunar highlands. Moreover, Gadamis 004 is extremely similar to the ferroan anorthositic specimens recovered by the Apollo 16 astronauts.

Scientists identify Moon rocks by specific textural, mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic signatures. Among the rarest objects on Earth, every single bit of the Moon could fit in the trunk of a large SUV. Of the 1400 kg known to exist, more than 40% is untouchable — and that includes all Apollo material.

Loaded with anorthosite, which is uncommon on Earth, and embellished by an entrancing web of impact melt, this beautiful, atypical specimen of the Moon — among the rarest substances on our planet — is accompanied by a custom pedestal. Modern cutting.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

159 x 115 x 2mm (6.25 x 4.5 x 0.1 in.) and 71.37 grams
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
28.03.2023
27.03.2023
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.