{"product_id":"new-rare-lunar-troctolite-4-8g-lunar-meteorite-from-deep-within-the-moon-s-crust","title":"NEW! Rare Lunar Troctolite - 4.8g - Lunar Meteorite From Deep Within The Moon’s Crust","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou are viewing a striking troctolite lunar meteorite with an exceptionally complex matrix—one that reads almost like a geological record etched in stone. This rare lunar lithology is composed primarily of olivine and plagioclase feldspar, minerals that crystallized together deep beneath the Moon’s surface under slow, stable cooling conditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTroctolites are thought to originate in the lower lunar crust or upper mantle, making them windows into regions of the Moon we cannot directly sample. What makes specimens like this especially compelling is the evidence of later, violent transformation. Subsequent impact events—likely tied to periods such as the Late Heavy Bombardment—subjected the rock to intense shock and heat, partially melting it before it rapidly cooled again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis process creates what is known as a melt breccia: a fusion of older crystalline fragments suspended within a once-molten matrix. Under magnification, you can often see ghostly outlines of earlier mineral grains alongside newly crystallized textures, capturing multiple episodes of lunar history in a single specimen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn some cases, shock effects may even produce microscopic features associated with shock metamorphism, subtly altering the crystal structure of the minerals themselves. These transformations are not just aesthetic—they provide critical clues about the intensity and frequency of impacts that have shaped the Moon’s surface over billions of years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eNote: this meteorite is pending official classification. This\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003emeans that the specimen is still undergoing scientific study.  It has been determined through an initial study to be a lunar meteorite from the moon, but the in-depth analysis, write-up and official name has not yet published to the Lunar and Planetary Institute's official Meteoritical Bulletin.  This process can be lengthy, and there is no guaranteed date for when a stone will be officially published.  This can happen anywhere from 6-12 months - sometimes shorter and sometimes even longer.  You are welcome to reach out to us anytime to see if your stone has completed classification. Jumping on board during the classification process is a fantastic time to get your hands on a meteorite that could come back with significantly important results, making the stone far more valuable than the current listed price.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will still receive a certificate of authenticity, but the word “pending” will be in place of an official name. We are happy to provide you with an updated e-certificate once the publication is complete.  These certificates are official and logged into our archives.  Should you desire a hard copy updated certificate, we provide them for free anywhere in the United States.  If you are located internationally, we charge a flat $20 which covers some of the shipping expenses.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e***How do we know it’s from the Moon? ***\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur moon lacks an atmosphere. When asteroids encounter these celestial bodies (which happens frequently), fragments eject from the impact and occasionally make their way into Earth’s orbit. If the stone survives its cataclysmic entry into Earth, it lands on the ground and becomes known as a meteorite. Once studied under a microscope by leading scientists in the field of Meteoritics, the stone's origin is then plotted based on its compositional property to the different classes of asteroids and samples returned to Earth. Lunar meteorites specifically are compared to samples returned by NASA's Apollo mission astronauts. From there, meteorites make their way into museums, universities and to the general public all around the world. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Interstellar Collection, LLC is acknowledged by the IMCA (#3950), the Global Meteorite Association (GMA #042) and the Meteorite Club. We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of all of our meteorites.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Interstellar Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51404433326375,"sku":null,"price":265.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0682\/2556\/4967\/files\/126FC1CF-E700-4BFC-AA1D-F238C4A741D7.jpg?v=1779135830","url":"https:\/\/theinterstellarcollection.com\/products\/new-rare-lunar-troctolite-4-8g-lunar-meteorite-from-deep-within-the-moon-s-crust","provider":"The Interstellar Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}