41. TISSERLITINE 001 — PARTIAL SLICE OF WHAT WAS THE SECOND LARGEST PIECE OF THE MOON ON EARTH
Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)
Sahara Desert, Kidal, Mali (21.325°N, 0.729°E)
First Found 2019 / TKW: 57.41 kg
In December 2019, approximately 400 kilometers from Timbuktu — a clutch of unusual dark stones was discovered in the wadi of Tisserlitine. Dozens of stones were collected including what was at the time the second largest piece of the Moon on Earth (40.026 kg / 88 lbs). The largest slices of the Moon are derived from this mass as well as the current offering.
Scientists identify Moon rocks by their specific 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. This breccia is composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, subcalcic augite, augite and orthopyroxene, plus sparse lithic clasts of spinel troctolite, set in a fine-grained microvesicular matrix containing accessory altered kamacite, troilite, taenite and pentlandite.
87 x 88 x 4mm (3.5 x 3.5 x 0.1 inches) and 70.7 grams.
Estimate $3,000 – 4,000 * No Reserve