Ungrouped Achondrite – ACHON-UNGR; Sahara Desert, Algeria

There is no other meteorite that looks — or is chemically similar to — the lot now offered. NWA 6704 is the 6704^th meteorite to be recovered in the North West African grid of the Sahara to be classified and published. It is ungrouped (i.e., it does not fit into a category of previously known meteorites, and in this instance, there are numerous aberrant features). As a result of its petrologic and geochemical traits being so distinct from established groups in the classification of meteorites, some researchers have taken to providing NWA 6704 with a “carbonaceous achondrite” moniker. The total known weight of 8.38 kg has been distributed to museums and private collections. Its igneous cumulate texture consists of grains of olivine and chromite enclosed within orthopyroxene which itself is surrounded by grains of albite. NWA 6704 is the only example of its parent asteroid known to exist — and it sparkles when illuminated with bright light.

NWA 6704 is so special that in February 2020 a team of scientists concluded in an article published in The Astronomical Journal that NWA 6704 provides insights into the evolution of planetary bodies and possibly in the ice-rich outer solar system and “Currently, we lack an understanding of the distribution of potential parent asteroids.” With its green-hued crystals glimmering amidst silvery nickel-rich metal, this is a choice sample of an enigmatic and visually captivating meteorite. Accompanied by a custom armature.

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.

102 x 81 x 31mm (4 x 3 x 1.25 in.) and 373.1 grams (0.75 lbs)