{"product_id":"new-65-8g-full-slice-jaw-dropping-personal-classification-of-nwa-18785-aubrite-fragmental-monomict-breccia-enstatite-achondrite-meteorite-evidence-of-possible-linkage-to-planet-mercury-copy-4","title":"NEW! 65.8g FULL SLICE Jaw-Dropping Personal Classification of NWA 18785 Aubrite - Fragmental Monomict Breccia, Enstatite Achondrite Meteorite - Evidence of Possible Linkage To Planet Mercury","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the newest meteorite to be discovered and studied by leading scientists in the field of Meteoritics for The Interstellar Collection, and the most in-demand we’ve ever encountered for our meteorites.  We’ve waited for the official writeup and provisional name, so we are ready to begin selling.  Do not miss your opportunity at this one. This is limited material and it’s absolutely stunning.  Aubrites do not typically look like this. It is a fragmental monomict breccia. Rare is an understatement!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinding a new aubrite is a significant event in planetary science.  There has been speculation of aubrites possibly originating from Planet Mercury, but this is of course just speculation, as we do not have physical specimens or enough data from Mercury to make a solid statement on the subject.  We choose to share this possibility so you can hold the specimen and simply say \u003cem\u003e“what if?!”  \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe official (provisional) writeup by the famous Dr. Carl Agee who did the work for us:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFieldname BJCA-1\u003cbr\u003eNWA 18785\u003cbr\u003eDiscovered in Mali, 2025\u003cbr\u003eMass: 1,796.9g\u003cbr\u003eType specimen mass: 20.8 g\u003cbr\u003eClass: Enstatite achondrite (aubrite)\u003cbr\u003eShock: high\u003cbr\u003eWeathering grade: moderate\u003cbr\u003eFa:0.0±0.0\u003cbr\u003eFs: 0.2±0.2, 0.0±0.0\u003cbr\u003eWo: 1.1±0.8, 44.0±2.2\u003cbr\u003eClassifier: C. Agee, UNM\u003cbr\u003eType spec loc: UNM\u003cbr\u003eHistory: This meteorite is a heavily shocked aubrite with numerous mineral fragments and melt pockets visible. Some orange-brown patches are present and the overall color is variable shades of gray presumably due to shock-darkening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePetrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite consists of ~90% enstatite, with minor dioside and forsterite. Accessory phases include oldhamite, niningerite, alabandite, daubréelite, and silicon-bearing kamacite. There are ubiquitous shock melt pockets throughout usually peppered with small metal and sulfide blebs and spheres. No plagioclase was detected. Many of the silicate phases are fragmental indicating significant shock\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeochem: (T. Shisseh, UNM) Enstatite Fs0.2±0.2Wo1.1±0.8, n=7; diopside Fs0.0±0.0Wo44.0±2.2, n=4; forsterite Fa0.0±0.0, n=2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClassification: Aubrite, fragmental monomict breccia (after Keil, 1989).\u003cbr\u003eSpecimens: 20.8 g on deposit at UNM, Brett Joseph Cohen holds the main mass.\u003cbr\u003eSubmitter: C. Agee\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eUnderstanding Aubrites\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAubrites are an uncommon type of achondritic meteorite that formed under highly unusual conditions during the early development of the solar system. Most aubrites are breccias—rocks composed of broken fragments—dominated by pale enstatite, sometimes featuring bits of olivine, nickel-iron, troilite, and melt-formed clasts typical of other achondrites.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnstatite, a variety of orthopyroxene, forms under igneous conditions and is considered one of the earliest minerals to crystallize in the solar system. Meteorites rich in enstatite are believed to come from E-type asteroids, such as the near-Earth asteroid 3130 Eger. Interestingly, enstatite has also been detected in environments beyond our solar system, including around aging stars and within planetary nebulae.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eAbout Achondrites\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAchondrites are stony meteorites that, unlike chondrites, do not contain chondrules—spherical grains formed from molten droplets in space. While achondrites do contain grains, their textures reflect volcanic or igneous processes rather than the primitive, chondrule-forming conditions of the early solar system.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey account for about 8% of all identified meteorites. Most achondrites are regolith breccias, formed from surface material blasted off planetary bodies such as large asteroids, the Moon, or Mars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Interstellar Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51985093001511,"sku":null,"price":2630.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0682\/2556\/4967\/files\/2245800C-8652-4E1B-B113-B794804C1B18.jpg?v=1788394852","url":"https:\/\/theinterstellarcollection.com\/products\/new-65-8g-full-slice-jaw-dropping-personal-classification-of-nwa-18785-aubrite-fragmental-monomict-breccia-enstatite-achondrite-meteorite-evidence-of-possible-linkage-to-planet-mercury-copy-4","provider":"The Interstellar Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}