SLICE OF A MARTIAN METEORITE — SHERGOTTITE NWA 13276 - photo 1

SLICE OF A MARTIAN METEORITE — SHERGOTTITE NWA 13276

Lot 21
23.02.2021 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 40 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 491231
Lot 21 | SLICE OF A MARTIAN METEORITE — SHERGOTTITE NWA 13276
Estimate value
$ 4 000 – 5 000
Four separate but seemingly identical stones, recovered in the Sahara Desert and sold to meteorite dealers in Mali and Mauritania, were subsequently obtained by a Moroccan dealer. Each of the stones was spectacular and it appeared from their similarity to previously classified specimens these were rocks from the planet Mars. Laboratory analyses led by the world’s foremost classifier of lunar and Martian meteorites, Dr. Anthony Irving, confirmed the suspicions.

As is the case with the Moon, specimens of Mars are among the most exotic substances on Earth with less than 250 kg (550 lbs) known to exist. The delivery mechanism to Earth was an asteroid impact on Mars that ejected material off the Martian surface that eventually found its way into an Earth-crossing orbit. The determination of Martian origin is the result of research conducted by hundreds of scientists throughout the world. In addition to many arcane chemical and isotopic markers, most Martian meteorites share the following fundamental characteristic: they have an unusually young crystalline age.

The link to Mars was speculative until an analysis was conducted on the glassy inclusions of other 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 Missions to Mars.

The matrix is extremely fresh. Olivine, pyroxene with maskelynite dominate; other minerals include chromite, ilmenite, merrillite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite. This complete, highly polished slice of a sample of the planet Mars is delimited by a rim of the meteorite’s external surface.

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 meteorite.

91 x 79 x 2mm (3.5 x 3 x 0.1 in.) and 32.74g
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
09.02.2021 – 23.02.2021
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.
?>