Large Lunar Meteorite - Oued El Hamim 001 - 884 grams

Discovered in Libya in 2024, Oued El Hamim 001 is a rare lunar fragmental breccia—a meteorite originating from the Moon that consists of numerous rock fragments lithified together by ancient impact processes.

Particularly noteworthy is the presence of alteration features reported within the meteorite, including olivine grains transformed to an iddingsite-like phase. Researchers have suggested that these features may be consistent with aqueous alteration processes, making Oued El Hamim 001 an intriguing specimen within the relatively small population of known lunar meteorites.

The journey of this material from the lunar surface to Earth is extraordinary. At some point in the distant past, a major impact event on the Moon ejected surface rock with sufficient velocity to escape the Moon’s gravity. After travelling through space, a small fragment eventually entered Earth’s atmosphere and survived its descent as a meteorite.

Lunar meteorites are identified through detailed mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical analysis, with their compositions compared to lunar samples returned by the Apollo and Luna missions as well as data collected by lunar spacecraft. These comparisons allow scientists to confidently distinguish genuine lunar material from other meteorite types.

Specimen Details

Meteorite: Oued El Hamim 001
Location Found: Libya
Classification: Lunar Fragmental Breccia
Mass: 844 g
Preparation: Professionally cut and polished

Highlights:

• Authentic lunar meteorite originating from the Moon
• Classified as a lunar fragmental breccia
• Exhibits unusual alteration features reported in the scientific description
• Large display-quality slice weighing 844 grams
• Professionally prepared to reveal the meteorite’s internal structure