NWA 14526 Lunar Mare Basalt - An Ultra Rare Meteorite From Deep Within Our Moon! 1.7g

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.

About Lunar Meteorites:

Unlike Earth, the Moon has only an extremely tenuous exosphere and lacks the substantial atmospheric protection that shields our planet from most incoming meteoroids. As a result, asteroid impacts occur frequently on the lunar surface. These powerful collisions can eject lunar material into space, and on rare occasions, some of these fragments are propelled into Earth-crossing orbits. If a fragment survives its fiery passage through Earth's atmosphere and reaches the ground, it becomes known as a meteorite.

When a suspected lunar meteorite is recovered—often by experienced meteorite hunters—a sample is submitted for scientific analysis. Using petrographic thin sections, chemical testing, and isotopic studies, Meteoriticists compare the specimen's composition to known lunar materials. Its lunar origin is then confirmed through a combination of mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic signatures that match lunar samples returned to Earth by NASA's Apollo missions. Once classified, these rare extraterrestrial specimens find their way into museums, universities, research collections, and private collections 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.