As is the case with the Moon, specimens of the planet Mars are among the most exotic substances on Earth with less than 400 kilograms known to exist. The delivery mechanism to Earth was an asteroid impact on Mars that ejected material from the Martian surface into an Earth-crossing orbit. NWA 11057 is the 11,057th distinct meteorite to be assigned a number after it was recovered from the North West African (“NWA”) corridor of the Sahara, analyzed and approved for publication.

The determination of Martian origin is the result of research conducted by scientists throughout the world. In addition to many highly specific and arcane chemical and isotopic markers, most Martian meteorites have an unusually young crystalline age, evidence of their origin on a large planet-size parent body. The link to Mars was speculative until an analysis was conducted on the glassy inclusions of suspected Martian meteorites Zagami and Elephant Moraine 79001. Within the glass were tiny vugs, and within these vugs were tiny volumes of gas. The gas was analyzed and it perfectly matched with the signature of the Martian atmosphere as reported by NASA’s Viking missions to Mars in 1976.

This particular Martian sample is a medium-grained igneous assemblage of predominantly clinopyroxene and maskelynite with accessory ilmenite (containing rare inclusions of baddeleyite and potassium-bearing glass). Veins of impact melt transect the specimen. The exterior rim contains bright highlights, the result of exposure to terrestrial desert elements. Large inclusions of dark impact glass are scattered across this specimen’s gray matrix. In fact, there is so much impact glass, it can be confidently inferred this specimen contains more Martian atmosphere than most Martian samples. Modern cutting.

The main mass of this meteorite, from which this slice was cut, is on display at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum which contains more of Mars — as well as the Moon — than any other museum in the world.

The analysis of this meteorite was led by Dr. Anthony Irving, whose findings underwent peer review by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. The analysis and classification were published in the 106th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin, the official registry of meteorites.

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.
154 x 145 x 3mm (6 x 5.75 x 0.1 in.) and 143 grams (0.3 pounds).