NWA 6950 originates from the Moon’s dark basaltic plains. It is among the youngest lunar materials known and among the most important Moon rocks discovered. Found near the border between Mali and Algeria by nomadic Berbers in June 2011, NWA 6950 was purchased by a Moroccan dealer. The scientific abstract in the Meteoritical Bulletin which documents NWA 6950’s lunar origins was authored by Dr. Anthony Irving, one of the world’s foremost planetary experts.
NWA 6950 consists primarily of basalt (volcanic rock) and cumulate olivine gabbro (dense greenish material that contains pyroxene, plagioclase and amphibole) – which proves the Moon was volcanically active far longer than imagined. The plagioclase is partially converted to maskelynite, a shock glass – and an elegantly thin filigree of shock veins courses through the matrix. The presence of this otherworldly ornamentation is consistent with the delivery mechanism of a large asteroid striking the lunar surface and launching material into outer space. This notable offering is the result of a cataclysmic explosion on the Moon, a hard landing on Earth and the winds of the Sahara, and is the most naturally sublime lunar specimen known.
Said Dr. Randy Korotev, one of the world’s experts on the Moon’s geochemistry “This is one of the most unusual lunar meteorites. It is unlike any rock in the Apollo collection.” Dr. Korotev was pointing out that the texture of this sample is different from the many different lithologies found in Apollo lunar samples. Moon rocks are identified by their mineralogy and chemistry. Many of the more common minerals found on Earth are rare or absent on the Moon and some minerals found on the Moon are not encountered on Earth. NWA 6950 has been chemically paired with other documented meteorites, which is to say they originated from the same impact event and all are referred to as the NWA 773 clan of meteorites.
NWA 6950, Lunar Gabbro (one of 10 ever found), 362g end-cut from main mass. 8x12cm.
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