Gadamis 003

Lunar material is some of the rarest material to exist on our planet — only 1,233 kilograms (2,718 lb) of confirmed lunar meteorites currently exist on Earth. And, while six of the Apollo missions brought back 382 kilograms (842 lb) of so-called "Moon rocks" from their combined voyages, these samples of the Moon are unavailable for private ownership. As a result, any piece of lunar material is exceedingly rare and highly sought after by both institutions and private collectors.

Two masses of Gadamis 003, weighing 600 and 670 g, were found in the Libyan desert outside of the oasis town of Ghadamis in 2021. After being analyzed by Dr. Carl Agee, the Director of the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico, he confirmed that not only is this a lunar meteorite, but that its high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture make it extremely similar to the Ferroan Anorthosite (FAN) clasts found within a number of the Moon rocks collected by the Apollo 16 astronauts.

Formed into a sphere reminiscent of the Moon from which it came, this Gadamis 003 meteorite contains a high number of anorthitic clasts, encircled and contrasted by darker cataclastic veining throughout, and displays distinct areas of reddish coloration providing contrast to its predominant colors of gray and white.

REFERENCES:

Meteoritical Bulletin Entry for Gadamis 003