Partial Slice of Martian Meteorite "Los Angeles" Martian...
Partial Slice of Martian Meteorite "Los Angeles" Martian (diabasic shergottite) Mojave Desert, California, USA This little specimen weighs a scant 6.9 grams, but it is a Martian Meteorite. Meteorites from Mars are some of the most exotic substances on Earth and have been verified by an analysis of tiny volumes of gas, which perfectly match information provided by the Viking missions to Mars operated by NASA. In January 2000, it was determined by a study at UCLA that two stones found in the Mojave Desert, with a total weight of only 680 grams, or about 1.5 pounds, were Martian in origin and from the same meteorite. This piece is part of the famous "Los Angeles" Meteorite named after the location of the collection where it was first recognized although it was discovered in the California Mojave Desert and is now being offered by the collector who discovered the stones and the current owner of this piece. This example of the extremely "fresh" Martian Meteorite exhibits highly sought after fusion crust on the exterior side. The mottled green and black matrix is a result of the shocking of Pyroxene and Plagioclase into Maskelynite. This specimen stands as a superb representation of one of the most famous of all the American meteorites and happens to be the ONLY Martian Meteorite proven to be from North America. The glassy substance was likely formed by an asteroid impact that jettisoned material off the surface of the Red Planet thus offering indisputable evidence of the time when a Martian really did come to Los Angeles! Overall Measurements: 1.20 x 1.02 x 0.12 inches, weighs 6.9 grams
HID09710052018
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
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Partial Slice of Martian Meteorite "Los Angeles" Martian (diabasic shergottite) Mojave Desert, California, USA This little specimen weighs a scant 6.9 grams, but it is a Martian Meteorite. Meteorites from Mars are some of the most exotic substances on Earth and have been verified by an analysis of tiny volumes of gas, which perfectly match information provided by the Viking missions to Mars operated by NASA. In January 2000, it was determined by a study at UCLA that two stones found in the Mojave Desert, with a total weight of only 680 grams, or about 1.5 pounds, were Martian in origin and from the same meteorite. This piece is part of the famous "Los Angeles" Meteorite named after the location of the collection where it was first recognized although it was discovered in the California Mojave Desert and is now being offered by the collector who discovered the stones and the current owner of this piece. This example of the extremely "fresh" Martian Meteorite exhibits highly sought after fusion crust on the exterior side. The mottled green and black matrix is a result of the shocking of Pyroxene and Plagioclase into Maskelynite. This specimen stands as a superb representation of one of the most famous of all the American meteorites and happens to be the ONLY Martian Meteorite proven to be from North America. The glassy substance was likely formed by an asteroid impact that jettisoned material off the surface of the Red Planet thus offering indisputable evidence of the time when a Martian really did come to Los Angeles! Overall Measurements: 1.20 x 1.02 x 0.12 inches, weighs 6.9 grams
HID09710052018
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
