Eucrite, monomict breccia – HED achondrite; Sahara Desert

The dark matrix provides a night-sky-like backdrop for the large, rounded breccia clasts revealed on the cut and polished face.

This meteorite originated as part of a basalt flow on or near the surface of the second largest asteroid in the solar system, Vesta (diameter 525 km). Scientists believe eucrites came from Vesta because it is the only large asteroid with a basalt-covered surface. Data transmitted from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which orbited Vesta in 2011-12, supports the conclusion of Vestan origin. The delivery mechanism to Earth was the result of another, smaller asteroid having slammed into Vesta, launching material off its surface into interplanetary space. It eventually migrated into an Earth-crossing orbit.

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.
226 mm x 170 mm x 40 mm (9 x 6²⁄₃ x 1¹⁄₂ in.)
2.1kg.

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