FROM THE SECOND LARGEST MOON ROCK — PARTIAL SLICE OF TISSERLITINE 001 - photo 1

FROM THE SECOND LARGEST MOON ROCK — PARTIAL SLICE OF TISSERLITINE 001

Lot 47
23.02.2021 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 7 500
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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Archive
ID 491257
Lot 47 | FROM THE SECOND LARGEST MOON ROCK — PARTIAL SLICE OF TISSERLITINE 001
Estimate value
$ 2 500 – 3 000
In December 2019, approximately 400 km from Timbuktu, a clutch of unusual dark stones was discovered in the wadi of Tisserlitine. Most of these stones were very small but the largest, 40.026 kg (88 lbs), turned out to be the second largest piece of the Moon on Earth — and is responsible for the largest slices of the Moon (see lot 73).

Scientists identify Moon rocks by 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 those same gases on Earth.

The Moon is among the rarest substances on our planet. Less than 750 kg of lunar meteorites are known to exist. All would fit within five large foot lockers and a significant portion of these rocks is controlled by governmental institutions. While Apollo astronauts returned with less than 400 kg of Moon rocks, not one milligram of this material is available for private ownership.

Lunar meteorites are delivered to Earth after being blasted off the lunar surface following the impact of an asteroid or comet. As a result of the ongoing pulverization of the lunar surface, different degrees of brecciation and melting are seen in lunar samples. Now offered is a novel presentation — no other lunar samples look quite like Tisserlitine 001. Part of the reason for its unusual appearance is that it landed in or near an active hot spring — secondary hydrothermal alteration effects are in evidence that would require extended interaction with hot water; perhaps this is only meteorite to have gone from the coldest depths of space to warm up for a dip.

This lunar breccia is primarily composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, augite and orthopyroxene set in a fine-grained matrix. The research scientist who analyzed Tisserlitine, Dr. Anthony Irving, is the world’s most renowned classifier of meteorites from the Moon and Mars.

Cut on two edges, one side of this partial slice is highly polished. The meteorite's external surface is seen on a curved rim. The matrix is a palette of grays and charcoals with a signature of most lunar specimens — white anorthositic clasts — peppered throughout. A swirl of other clasts and inclusions are seen in this distinctive matrix. Small vents and divots characteristic of the material are in evidence, as are tiny flecks of metal derived from an impacting asteroid — one of many such bodies that slammed into the Moon. One of these colliding bodies blasted this Moon rock off the surface and sent it on its way to Earth. Cut from the second largest lunar sample on Earth, this is a select specimen.

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.

The analysis of this meteorite was led by Dr. Anthony Irving, whose findings underwent peer review by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. The analysis and classification was published in the 109th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin — the official registry of meteorites.

61 x 49 x 4mm (2.5 x 2 x 0.1 in.) and 22.52g
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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09.02.2021 – 23.02.2021
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