EXCEPTIONAL END PIECE OF A MARS ROCK — GADAMIS 001 - photo 1

EXCEPTIONAL END PIECE OF A MARS ROCK — GADAMIS 001

Sold
$ 11 340
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 926993
Lot 16 | EXCEPTIONAL END PIECE OF A MARS ROCK — GADAMIS 001
Three unusual stones were found by Bedouins a few kilometers north of Gadamis, Libya in April 2019. Shortly thereafter, laboratory analyses led by the world’s foremost classifier of lunar and Martian meteorites, Dr. Anthony Irving, confirmed his suspicion these rocks were pieces of the planet Mars.

As is the case with the Moon, specimens of Mars are among the most exotic substances on Earth with less than 800 pounds (350 kg) known to exist. The delivery mechanism to Earth was an asteroid impact on Mars that ejected material off the surface that eventually found its way into an Earth-crossing orbit. The parameters in determining Martian origin were established by hundreds of international scientists. In addition to many arcane chemical and isotopic markers, most Martian meteorites evidence an unusually young crystalline age and water alteration.

The link to Mars was speculative until an analysis was conducted several decades ago on the glassy inclusions of suspected Martian meteorites. Within the glass were tiny vugs, and within these vugs were tiny volumes of gas. The gas was analyzed and it matched perfectly with the signature of the Martian atmosphere as reported by NASA’s Viking Martian landers.

The specimen now offered is truly exceptional in that it has four faces, each of which exhibits an important and notably different character. One surface has a band of fresh fusion crust, the result of the meteorite having been toasted as it burned through Earth’s atmosphere; another surface has secondary crust, the result of an upper atmospheric air-break where crust again began to form — but failed to become entirely encrusted due to insufficient time as the meteorite decelerated in the atmosphere; a third face is a terrestrial impact break with a light desert varnish which provides a peek at the matrix; the last surface is the cut and polished face which reveals, in sharp-focus, the large-grained diabasic texture of the specimen now seen.

The matrix is extremely fresh with prismatic clinopyroxene, as well as lathes of maskelynite with accessory merrillite, apatite, ilmenite and pyrrhotite. One such lathe is 16 mm long — among the largest documented. Pockets of shock melt are in evidence which might contain trapped pockets of Martian atmosphere. While modest in size, the tales this Martian specimen tells are titanic — and it’s likely there is not a Martian sample this size, and this quality, as broadly appealing as this offering.

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.

31 x 59 x 33mm (1.25 x 2.33 x 1.33 in.) and 54.96 grams
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.