This new meteorite display features an authentic sample of lunar meteorite (Moon Rock) that was recovered from the Saharan Desert and analyzed by scientists of the Meteoritical Society to verify it's lunar origin.
The meteorite sample is a small fragment that was collected during the cutting of a large specimen of the meteorite. The fragment is placed inside a handsome display box that has a black pebblegrain finish and a glass viewing window. The specimen is set against a print of retro science-fiction artwork showing astronauts on the Moon. This display would make the ideal gift for someone who has everything. This would also make a fine outreach or educational prop and it would look great on display in the office or observatory.
Refer to the photo. The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included. You get a display like the one shown. Each meteorite sample fragment is unique and may vary in appearance slightly. The display box measures approx. 4 inches by 3 inches. (100mm long x 75mm wide x approx. 15mm deep).
Your purchase will come with a data sheet that has information about the meteorite sample in your display.
From the Meteoritical Bulletin entry on NWA 11788 :
Northwest Africa 11788 (NWA 11788)
Mali
Purchased: 2017
Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)
History: Purchased in Mali from anonymous meteorite hunter.
Physical characteristics: Many dark visually identical appearing pieces, with masses ranging from ~2 kg to many sub-g fragments, showing no fusion crust. Saw cut reveals a finely fragmental breccia with white feldspathic clasts set in a dark gray ground mass with metal flecks and minor vesiculation appearing throughout.
Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is a breccia of fragmental pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase grains. There are domains that are fine-grained and cataclastic with shock melt and vesicles.
Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) olivine Fa: 31.2±9.4, Fe/Mn=95±7, n=12; clinopyroxene Fs36.0±10.0Wo22.2±8.8, Fe/Mn=60±5, n=12; plagioclase An93.0±1.8, n=7; Shock melt (20 _m defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO2=43.2±1.7, TiO2=0.46±0.20, Al2O3=24.2±3.6, Cr2O3=0.23±0.08, MgO=7.8±1.4, FeO=8.0±3.2, MnO=0.10±0.05, CaO=14.2±1.4, Na2O=0.35±0.23, K2O=0.08±0.05 (all wt%), n=4.
Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia
