NWA 14526 Lunar Mare Basalt - An Ultra Rare Meteorite From Deep Within Our Moon! 1.3g

Why is this lunar meteorite even more rare than others? Lunar surface morphology has evolved over billions of years due to a combination of a couple main contributors: continual meteoroid impact events, (creating deep, massive craters), as well as volcanic eruptions, which fill those craters, harden, and create a new surface. While most lunar meteorites originated from the lunar highlands, very few are from the basaltic plain region. This area is called the “maria”, which make up the basaltic plains of the moon, and are those dark patches we can see on the moon today. Through scientific analysis of the mineral compounds found within lunar mare basalt meteorites, it is believed that these stones originated from deep within the basaltic plain area where partial melting of the lunar mantle once occurred.

***How do we know it’s from the Moon? ***

Our 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. 

The 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.