In 2022 an unusual 12-kilogram rock was found by desert nomads near the desert oasis of Gadamis, Libya. A sample was analyzed by NASA researcher and Director of the Institute of Meteoritics, Dr. Carl Agee, who confirmed this was a Moon rock — a finding confirmed by the Meteoritical Society’s protocol of peer review prior to being named Gadamis 004 and published in the journal of record, the Meteoritical Bulletin.

This does not look like a typical feldspathic breccia (see lots 9 and 27) as it is anorthosite-rich — so much so that cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase makes up 98-99% of this specimen. Gadamis 004 arrived on Earth after having been ejected off the lunar surface following an asteroid impact in the lunar highlands. Moreover, Gadamis 004 is extremely similar to the ferroan anorthositic specimens recovered by the Apollo 16 astronauts.

Scientists identify Moon rocks by specific textural, mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic signatures. Among the rarest objects on Earth, every single bit of the Moon could fit in the trunk of a large SUV. Of the 1400 kg known to exist, more than 40% is untouchable — and that includes all Apollo material.

Loaded with anorthosite, which is uncommon on Earth, and embellished by an entrancing web of impact melt, this beautiful, atypical specimen of the Moon — among the rarest substances on our planet — is accompanied by a custom pedestal. Modern cutting.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

159 x 115 x 2mm (6.25 x 4.5 x 0.1 in.) and 71.37 grams