1.67" Polished Lunar Meteorite (5.46 g) Section - Dayet el Aam 003

This is a 1.67" wide (5.46 gram) section of the Lunar meteorite Dayet el Aam 003, found in 2022. The meteorite has been cut flat and polished to a glossy finish on one side.


The Dayet el Aam 003 Lunar Meteorite

Dayet el Aam 003 is a single, 225 gram lunar meteorite discovered in the desert region near the Mauritania-Western Sahara border. It was found in 2022 and later sold in 2024 to Matthew Stream and Mark Lyon. The meteorite is a polymict breccia comprised of tiny mineral clasts set within a fine-grained matrix. Lithic clast lithologies identified include anorthosites, troctolites, impact melt clasts, and dunites; mineral clast lithologies identified include irregularly zoned olivines, pyroxenes (low-calcium, pigeonite, and high-calcium), and chromian spinels.

Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Lunar Meteorite Dayet el Aam 003

Moon Rocks... On Earth...

Think the only moon rocks on Earth are samples brought back from Apollo missions? Think again!

Lunar meteorites are type of achondrite meteorites that were formed like other stony (chondrite) meteorites, but they were ejected into space by meteorites and other celestial bodies hitting the moon. Almost all lunar meteorites are brecciated amalgamations of feldspathic and basaltic rocks commonly found on the Moon's surface.

Lunar meteorites are pretty rare to find on Earth: the vast majority of meteorites are from the asteroid belt, and less than 1 percent of classified meteorites are lunar in origin. The total mass of all known lunar meteorites is probably less than 1,000 kilograms. Owning a piece of the moon is a pretty rare accomplishment!

One reason they are so rare is because lunar meteorites superficially look just like earth rocks. Even a true meteorite expert would not recognize a lunar meteor laying on the ground among earthly stones. Lunar meteorites have only been recognized in places naturally devoid of rocks, like sandy deserts and ice sheets. In fact, there has never been a lunar meteorite classified from North America, South America or Europe. Most are found in the Sahara Desert (Northwest Africa), Antarctica, or Oman. All Antarctic meteorites are governmental property so they cannot be privately attained.
SOLD
DETAILS
TYPE
Lunar Meteorite
LOCATION
Tiris Zemmour, Mauritania
SIZE
Size: 1.67 x 1.09", up to .18" thick, Weight: 5.46 grams
ITEM
#304387