Lunar meteorite from the desert region of North Africa

A lunar meteorite from the desert region of North Africa, polished slice with a clearly visible brecciated texture. Light anorthite clasts from the lunar highland crust are embedded in a darker shock matrix, a direct reading of lunar impact geology.

Lunar meteorites are formed by asteroid impacts on the lunar surface. These catapult rock material into space at sufficient speed. After thousands of years, the material lands on Earth.

The polished section shows the breccia texture characteristic of lunar meteorites: light anorthite clasts from the lunar highland crust, embedded in a fine-grained, darker matrix of shock-melted material.

Identification as a lunar meteorite is carried out by chemical analysis. Oxygen isotopes and trace elements are compared with samples from the Apollo and Luna missions. Only about 0.5 percent of all known meteorites originate from the Moon.

The North African deserts are among the most productive search areas worldwide. The dry climate preserves meteorites on the surface for a long time. The contrast against the bright desert sand makes them easier to find.

A collector's item of the highest class with verifiable classification. Lunar meteorites are traded internationally in the five- to six-figure range per gram.