An exemplary specimen of an important meteorite, this partial slice contains a veritable galaxy of densely packed chondrules held together by fine-grained silicate matrix material (compacted nebular dust dating from the earliest stages of solar-system history). A lithology of darker patches course through the cut face, providing further accenting. With one edge of fusion crust, and weighing precisely 100g., this is a superior example of primitive planetary matter.
188 x 111 x 2 mm. (7.5 x 4.33 x 0.1 in.)

100.0 g.

Now offered is a partial slice of the 8,257th catalogued meteorite from the North West African grid of the Sahara Desert. NWA 8257 is scientifically significant: unlike 99% of other stone meteorites, the material seen here has remained largely unchanged since its origins in the cloud of gas and dust known as the “solar nebula.” This is a rare glimpse of the raw ingredients that formed the planets, moons, comets and asteroids of the solar system before the onset of planetary processes (e.g., heat, pressure, water alteration, etc.) blended, baked and altered the differentiated ingredients now seen. Research is currently being done on other specimens of NWA 8257 as a result of its scientific allure: it is petrologically primitive, extremely fresh and it shares affinities with other scientifically significant meteorites. NWA 8257 consists of a galaxy of densely packed chondrules with variable textures and a range of sizes. Less than 50 kg of planetary material has been recovered on Earth that is more primitive than NWA 8257, a rock that scientists have typed at “less than 3.2”. In effect, this offering is a relic and snapshot of the beginning of solar system history.

The main mass from which this slice was cut will be on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note.