The classic presentation of a monomict eucrite—a seeming extraterrestrial formica—covers the cut and polished face. While brecciated from impacts, its clasts are composed of a single rock type. Gabbroic eucrite clasts form a darker ground mass. Exceedingly fresh, there are clusters of larger grains at one end of the specimen. The reverse side features fusion crust (formed during the meteorite’s descent to Earth), portions where the crust abraded away (providing a peek at the internal matrix) and Navajo yellow accents from the meteorite’s residency in the Sahara.
114 x 97 x 32 mm. (4.5 x 3.75 x 1.25 in.)

417.9 g. (1 lbs.)

This meteorite originated from a basalt flow on or near the surface of the second largest asteroid in the solar system, Vesta (mean diameter 525 km). Scientists believe eucrites originate from Vesta in part because it is the only large asteroid with a basalt-covered surface. In addition, data transmitted from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which orbited the asteroid Vesta in 2011-12, supports this conclusion. In counterpoint to the primitive chondritic meteorites in this offering (see lot 4) this is an achondrite, it does not have any chondrules. The chondritic material from which it originated underwent complete melting and reconstitution inside Vesta before it was erupted onto the surface or emplaced at shallow depths. Major phases in the meteorite include pigeonite and plagioclase along with minor silica, ilmenite, chromite and troilite. Like all meteorites from Vesta, this specimen originates from the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars.

The other end piece of this meteorite 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.