.62" Lunar Meteorite Slice (0.99 g) - NWA 10964

NWA 10964 is the name given to a lunar feldspathic breccia found by Saharan nomads in 2015. It was later purchased in 2016 and has since entered the market as a rare collector's item.

Why is this meteorite so rare? Lunar meteorites are already rare among total meteorites known on Earth, but NWA 10964 takes the cake: only 26 grams of this particular meteorite exist! However, it is actually paired with 14 other meteorites of virtually indistinguishable composition, totaling about 12 kilograms in weight. Together they consist of the NWA 8673 clan. All meteorites of this clan exhibit grayish interiors with lighter clasts and specks of metal throughout when sliced.

Moon Rocks... On Earth...

Think the only moon rocks on Earth are samples brought back from Apollo missions? Think again!

Lunar meteorites are formed like other stony (chondrite) meteorites, but they were ejected into space by meteorites and other celestial bodies hitting the moon. Almost all lunar meteorites are brecciated amalgamations of feldspathic and basaltic rocks commonly found on the Moon's surface.

Lunar meteorites are pretty rare to find on Earth: the vast majority of meteorites are from the asteroid belt, and less than 1 percent of classified meteorites are lunar in origin. The total mass of all known lunar meteorites is probably less than 1,000 kilograms. Owning a piece of the moon is a pretty rare accomplishment!

One reason they are so rare is because lunar meteorites superficially look just like earth rocks. Even a true meteorite expert would not recognize a lunar meteor laying on the ground among earthly stones. Lunar meteorites have only been recognized in places naturally devoid of rocks, like sandy deserts and ice sheets. In fact, there has never been a lunar meteorite classified from North America, South America or Europe. Most are found in the Sahara Desert (Northwest Africa), Antarctica, or Oman. All Antarctic meteorites are governmental property so they cannot be privately attained.