25. NWA 13885 — COMPLETE SLICE OF A ROCK FROM MARS
SNC – Shergottite
Erg Chech Sand Sea, Algeria
Found 2021 / TKW: 2.61 kg
This slice was cut from the main mass of NWA 13885. Among the most exotic substances on Earth, there are less than 400 kg (880 lbs) of Mars on Earth known to exist — every bit of which could handily fit in the back of a small pick-up truck. The delivery mechanism to Earth was an asteroid impact on Mars that ejected material off the Martian surface that found its way into an Earth-crossing orbit.
It was in 2020 when meteorite hunters were searching for additional specimens of Erg Chech 002 (later determined to be the oldest igneous rock in our solar system) that NWA 13885 was discovered.
Its cut and polished surface reveals coarse crystals with orange-brown olivine phenocrysts set in a light green-brown groundmass with veins of shock melt. NWA 13885 is primarily composed of pyroxene, olivine, ilmenite, chromite, troilite and the impact glass maskelynite, which is unknown to occur on Earth except in meteorites and impact craters.
119 x 76 x 2mm (4.66 x 3 x 0.1 inches) and 57.27 grams
Provenance:
Macovich Collection, New York City
Estimate $3,500 – 4,500 * Res $2,200