NWA 12691 — END PIECE FROM THE MOON, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REVEALED - photo 1

NWA 12691 — END PIECE FROM THE MOON, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REVEALED

Lot 33
28.03.2023 11:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 25 200
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 927024
Lot 33 | NWA 12691 — END PIECE FROM THE MOON, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REVEALED
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
Similar to lots 9, 45 and 66. Every single bit of the Moon on Earth could fit in the trunk of a large SUV. While Apollo astronauts returned with approximately 382 kg of Moon rocks, not one milligram is available for private ownership. As for the nearly 800 kg of lunar meteorites, i.e., pieces of the Moon ejected off the lunar surface following an asteroid impact — and nearly all of the craters on the Moon are the result of such impacts — a good deal of that material is also untouchable as a result of its residency in the world’s great museums and research institutions.

Found in 2017 by desert nomads, NWA 12691 was classified by Dr. Anthony Irving, among world’s foremost classifiers of lunar and Martian meteorites.

The classic characteristics of a feldspathic lunar breccia are in evidence: white anorthite suspended in a charcoal lunar groundmass “cemented’ together as part of a melt that solidified. Its primary minerals are anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, augite, pigeonite, fayalite, silica polymorph, ilmenite and kamacite. The cut and polished face has the same character as the reverse but with a finer resolution. Much of the reverse has a terrestrial desert patina of the Sahara affixed to the specimen; (it can be removed should a buyer so desire). The cut and polished face has a high polish. The cleanly sloping angle from 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock seems as if it’s a cut edge but it’s the natural shape of this piece of the Moon. The brecciation seen is the result of the ongoing bombardment of the Moon’s surface by asteroid impacts prior to the collision responsible for launching this Moon rock to Earth. Accompanied by a custom pedestal. Modern cutting.

The official classification of the material from which this end piece was hewn was performed by Dr. Anthony Irving, the world’s foremost classifier of lunar and Martian meteorites. His work underwent peer review prior to publication in the 108th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin.

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.

109 x 81 x 38mm (4.25 x 3.25 x 1.5 in.) and 343.4 grams (0.75 lbs)
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
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