Martian Shergottite – SNC Los Angeles, California

In October 1999 researchers at UCLA determined that two meteorites brought in for analysis were pieces of the planet Mars. They arrived on Earth after having been blasted off the Martian surface following an asteroid or cometary impact. These two meteorites — which together weigh approximately a pound and a half — were found by Bob Verish, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and extreme rock hound.

The two meteorites — often referred to as LA 001 and LA 002 — are extremely fresh Martian meteorites, and now offered is a select specimen of LA 001. Rimmed with one edge of sought-after fusion crust, the matrix is an abstract mottling in green and black — replete with plagioclase that was transformed into maskelynite by shock. The formation of this glass was likely due to the asteroid impact that ejected the meteorite into space. Martian meteorites are identified by a variety of chemical and isotopic signatures. Now offered is a sample of a legendary sample of the planet Mars.

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.

This meteorite was analyzed and classified by Drs. Alan Rubin and Paul Warren at UCLA and their findings underwent peer review prior to publication in the 84th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin.

21 x 31 x 1mm (0.75 x 1.25 x 0.1 in.) and 2.292g