Beschreibung:

SNC – Shergottite / Mars Rock Sahara Desert, Morocco This partial slice with one edge of fusion crust originates from the main mass of Martian Meteorite NWA 7397 (the 7397th meteorite to be classified following its recovery in what scientists designated as the North West African corridor in the Sahara Desert). One large end piece of the NWA 7397 main mass is already part of a major collection and numerous specimens have been distributed to leading museums and research centers. The determination of Martian origin is the result of investigations conducted by scientists throughout the world. The lead author of the scientific abstract on NWA 7397 is Dr. Anthony Irving, the world's foremost classifier of planetary meteorites, and his analysis—and that of his colleagues—accompanies this specimen. In addition, a panel of independent scientists referred to as Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, have vetted and approved the analysis and thus, this is a sanctioned specimen of the planet Mars. Found in 2012, NWA 7397 contains large salmon-hued pyroxene oikocrysts (crystals that contain smaller crystals of other minerals—in this instance olivine and chromite). NWA 7397 shares the chemical and isotopic fingerprint of other documented Martian meteorites, of which less than 300 pounds are known to exist. An asteroid impact on the Martian surface was responsible its delivery. Upon impacting Mars, it ejected material off Mars into outer space—some of which was directed into an Earth-intersecting orbit. Samples of Mars are among the rarest objects on Earth, and this is a select representation. Measures 62 x 45 x 2mm (2.5 x 1.75 x 0.1 inches) and weighs 27.08 grams