A significant piece of Mars, believed to be the largest ever found on Earth, has been sold at a prestigious auction for an astonishing 86 billion Rupiah (approximately $5.3 million USD).
This rare Martian meteorite was ejected from the Red Planet’s surface due to an asteroid impact. After an interstellar journey spanning up to 140 million miles, the space rock landed in the barren Sahara Desert, specifically in the Agadez region of Niger. A meteorite hunter discovered the stone in November 2023, as confirmed by Sotheby’s.
The meteorite’s rarity stems not only from its Martian origin but also from the slim chance of such a fragment surviving its journey and landing intact on Earth. “This is the biggest piece of Mars on Planet Earth,” stated Cassandra Hatton, Deputy Chairman of Science and Natural History at Sotheby’s.She emphasized the remarkable luck involved, noting that “more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. So the fact that this stone landed on land and could be found is extraordinary luck.”
Visually, the meteorite is distinctive, displaying a blend of red, brown, and gray hues. Its mineral composition is characteristic of Martian meteorites, a group that includes only about 400 officially recorded specimens. Hatton also mentioned that the stone’s size exceeded the auction team’s initial estimations by more than double.
The importance of this Martian meteorite lies in its size, composition, and the incredible journey it undertook. This discovery offers valuable insights into the geological history and processes of Mars, making it a prized possession for scientific study and a testament to the dynamic nature of our solar system.