Enstatite chondrite – EH5; Oudiyat Sbaa, Morocco

On November 18, 2016 in the afternoon, a fireball was seen traveling in a southerly direction by numerous observers over a remote area of southeastern Morocco. While camel shepherds thought the subsequent sonic boom was caused by a landmine trodden upon by an unfortunate member of their herd, others commenced searching for fallen stones; several days later a shepherd found three black fusion-crusted stones on sandy soil near Oudiyat Sbaa. Less than 24 kg of this enstatite chondrite exist and the main mass is on display at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum (which also features the largest pieces of the Moon and Mars on Earth). Oudiyat Sbaa is rich in the mineral enstatite; unlike most other chondrites, the minerals in enstatite chondrites contain almost no iron oxide; they are the most oxygen-poor silicate rocks known. This results in a high abundance of metal and sulfide-rich mineralogy, and it was reported upon its discovery that Oudiyat Sbaa reeked of sulfur.

Meteorites with an EH classification (e.g., an enstatite chondrite with a high amount of iron) like Oudiyat Sbaa are rare and the “5” designation coming after the “EH” (which indicates it’s highly metamorphosed) are more rare still. Oudiyat Sbaa is only the third EH5 witnessed fall documented and is one of only eight EH5 meteorites in the literature. Nearly half of all EH meteorites known were found in Antarctica by scientists (and will forever be off-limits to the collecting community).

After a little rubbing, the odor of sulfur still emanates from this partial slice. The cut and polished matrix is a homogenous deep gray embedded by metallic flakes throughout. An exterior rim of smooth black fusion crust, which resulted from the meteorite’s penetration of the atmosphere, borders three sides of this partial slice; the fourth is the cut surface. Most scientists believe the lack of oxygen in enstatite chondrites is indicative of their having formed — unlike 99% of all meteorites — near the center of the solar nebula. Now offered is a pristine partial slice of an exotic meteorite that is exceedingly difficult to obtain. 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.

97 x 119 x 6mm (3.75 x 4.66 x 0.25 in.) and 205.9 grams (0.5 lbs)