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2.61" Martian Shergottite Meteorite (15.14 g) Slice - NWA 17880
Here is a brand new Martian shergottite meteorite which was recently classified by Dr. Carl Agee at the University of New Mexico. There is only a single known stone from this fall which weighed under 1kg. We were lucky enough to obtain a few slices from this new Martian meteorite, NWA 17880.
This slice measures 2.61 x 1.83 x 0.07" and weighs 15.14 grams. It has been polished on one side and comes with an acrylic display case and acrylic display stand.
This slice measures 2.61 x 1.83 x 0.07" and weighs 15.14 grams. It has been polished on one side and comes with an acrylic display case and acrylic display stand.
Martian Meteorite NWA 17880
Northwest Africa 17880 is a Martian shergottite (olivine-phyric) that was just discovered in Mali, Africa and recently classified (2025). It was a single stone with a total mass of 367 grams. The exterior surface was desert-weathered and cut slices reveal light green olivines, dark green pyroxenes, and black maskelynite patches.
Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for NWA 17880
Northwest Africa 17880 is a Martian shergottite (olivine-phyric) that was just discovered in Mali, Africa and recently classified (2025). It was a single stone with a total mass of 367 grams. The exterior surface was desert-weathered and cut slices reveal light green olivines, dark green pyroxenes, and black maskelynite patches.
Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for NWA 17880
About Martian Meteorites (Shergottites)
Martian meteorites are rocks that formed on Mars before being ejected due to asteroid impacts, traveling through space and landing on Earth as meteorites. As you might expect, Martian meteorites are quite rare, representing less than 0.5 percent of all classified meteorites. The total mass of all known Martian meteorites is only several hundred kilograms. Superficially, Martian meteorites look very similar to igneous rocks on Earth, so nearly all have been identified from regions naturally devoid of rocks like sandy deserts (Sahara Desert and Oman) and the Antarctic ice sheets.
The achondrite meteorites are subdivided into three classes; shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites, which together are referred to as the SNC group of meteorites. These meteorites are interpreted as Martian in origin because they have elemental and isotopic compositions similar to rocks and atmospheric gasses on Mars.
Roughly three-quarters of all Martian meteorites can be classified as shergottites. Shergottites are igneous rocks of mafic to ultramafic lithology that may have crystallized as recently as 180 million years ago. This is unusual, since most of the surface of Mars appears to be ancient, and the planet itself is rather small. Because of this, some believe that shergottites are actually much older. This "Shergottite Age Paradox" remains unsolved and is still an area of active research and debate.
Martian meteorites are rocks that formed on Mars before being ejected due to asteroid impacts, traveling through space and landing on Earth as meteorites. As you might expect, Martian meteorites are quite rare, representing less than 0.5 percent of all classified meteorites. The total mass of all known Martian meteorites is only several hundred kilograms. Superficially, Martian meteorites look very similar to igneous rocks on Earth, so nearly all have been identified from regions naturally devoid of rocks like sandy deserts (Sahara Desert and Oman) and the Antarctic ice sheets.
The achondrite meteorites are subdivided into three classes; shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites, which together are referred to as the SNC group of meteorites. These meteorites are interpreted as Martian in origin because they have elemental and isotopic compositions similar to rocks and atmospheric gasses on Mars.
Roughly three-quarters of all Martian meteorites can be classified as shergottites. Shergottites are igneous rocks of mafic to ultramafic lithology that may have crystallized as recently as 180 million years ago. This is unusual, since most of the surface of Mars appears to be ancient, and the planet itself is rather small. Because of this, some believe that shergottites are actually much older. This "Shergottite Age Paradox" remains unsolved and is still an area of active research and debate.
TYPE
Shergottite (Olivine-Phyric)
AGE
LOCATION
Mali, Africa
SIZE
2.61 x 1.83", 0.07" thick, Weight: 15.14 grams
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#337552
