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OnDaFence 36M/44M
44267 posts
10/14/2018 6:02 pm

Last Read:
10/17/2018 8:15 am

A Piece of the action!



A 12-pound (5.5 kilogram) lunar meteorite discovered in Northwest Africa last year is up for auction by Boston-based RR Auction and could sell for $500,000 or more during online bidding that runs till Thursday Oct. 18. This is the only way a private collector can get their hands on a piece of the moon because the moon rocks brought back by astronauts are U.S. government property.It is one of the most important meteorites available for acquisition anywhere in the world today, and one of the biggest pieces of the moon ever put up for sale.



The rock classified as NWA 11789, also known as "Buagaba," was found last year in a remote area of Mauritania but probably plunged to Earth thousands of years ago. The meteorite is actually composed of six fragments that fit together like a puzzle. The largest of those pieces weighs about 6 pounds.



Most lunar meteorites found are the size of a walnut or golf ball, said Geoff Notkin, star of television's "Meteorite Men" and CEO of Aerolite Meteorites, which is selling the rock.

"As soon as we saw this, we knew it was extraordinarily unusual," he said. "This is close to a once in a lifetime find."



It is also one the few known lunar meteorites with what experts call "partial fusion crust," caused by the tremendous heat that sears the rock as it descends through the atmosphere.

"It actually toasted on the outside," Notkin said.



Another thing that makes it different from most meteorites is that it is "unpaired." Sometimes different pieces of the same meteorite are discovered at different times, and those examples are known as "paired." An "unpaired" meteorite is more desirable to collectors and perhaps more valuable to science.



The meteorite would be a nice addition to any natural history museum, but don't be surprised if a private collector snaps it up, said Robert Livingston, RR's executive vice president.

"


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 6:05 pm

What ever happened to the "green Cheese"???


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 6:06 pm

We have lotsa rocks that look like that out in the field


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 6:07 pm

I will try to find out what the final winning bid is.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 6:09 pm

Not the kind of rock to wear in a ring


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 8:25 pm

    Quoting  :

I thought so too!


Hungr4Yungr 75M
5766 posts
10/14/2018 9:28 pm

A lunar meteorite; how very interesting. It will be fun to know who buys it and for how much. The buyer will most likely choose to remain anonymous.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/14/2018 9:43 pm

    Quoting Hungr4Yungr:
    A lunar meteorite; how very interesting. It will be fun to know who buys it and for how much. The buyer will most likely choose to remain anonymous.
It's a bit too BIG for a ring or necklace so they will probably stash it under their bed. The final amount paid shall be interesting.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/15/2018 4:44 pm

    Quoting  :

These rocks have not been gotten off in a very long time!


jrodd 65M
4396 posts
10/17/2018 5:35 am

Pallasite is a rare beautiful meteorite that makes beautiful jewellry from the green olivine crystals in it .


OnDaFence 36M/44M

10/17/2018 8:15 am

    Quoting jrodd:
    Pallasite is a rare beautiful meteorite that makes beautiful jewellry from the green olivine crystals in it .
oooooooOOOOOh I better quick bid on it then!