Heritage Auctions’ Natural History Signature Meteorite Auction, to be held in New York on 14th October is the place you should visit if you want to own piece of our nearest celestial neighbor. The fourth largest portion of the Moon – a meteorite chunk, dubbed Dar al Gani (DAG) 1058, is expected to sell at an estimated price of $340,000 to $380,000.
Weighting 1.779 kilograms (3.9 pounds), DaG 1058 is thought to have been blown off the lunar surface after it repeatedly been smashed by numerous number of asteroids. This slab-shaped rock, size 116 x 238 x 58mm (4.5 x 9.25 x 2.25 inches) is comprised of lithic clasts, mineral fragments and glassy matrix. Accompanied by the scientific abstract in the Meteoritical Bulletin on DaG 1058, this rock is described by the scientists as the lunar highland breccia originating from the far side of the Moon. Lunar specimens are identified by specific geological, mineralogical, chemical and radiation signatures. Dr Anthony Irving of the University of Washington, who is renowned for the classification of lunar meteorites, was the lead author on the work done on DaG 1058.
The DaG 1058 is paired to the DaG 400, its close cousin, originated from the same parent body. The DaG 400 is the first lunar meteorite recognized to have fallen in Africa. This unique rock, that is worthy of the greatest natural history museums in the world, is currently in the possession of an anonymous collector and will soon be auctioned off.
