Moon Rock – feldspathic regolithic breccia Sahara Desert, North West Africa

Moon rock that landed on Earth after ejection from the lunar surface following an asteroid impact. There are only 650 kilograms of lunar meteorites known to exist—with a significant fraction held in institutional colections. Lunar meteorites are identified by specific mineralogical, chemical, textural and radiation signatures. The Moon is among the rarest substances on Earth. Many common minerals found on Earth’s surface are rare on the Moon and some lunar minerals are unknown on Earth. In addition, Moon rocks contain gases captured from the solar wind with isotope ratios that are very different from the same gases found on Earth. While Apollo astronauts returned with less than 400 kg of Moon rocks, not one milligram is available to collectors.