Adrar 013 Lunar Meteorite Individual, Melt Breccia, 8.08g, Flow-Banded Impact Melt

Flow-banded lunar impact melt preserved in natural form

This 8.08g complete individual from Adrar 013 preserves the chaotic violence of lunar impact melting in its original form. The specimen displays flow-banded melt matrix wrapping around high-relief clasts -- evidence of molten rock streaming across the lunar surface before rapid solidification. No cuts interrupt the natural geometry. The contrast between the recrystallized melt and lithic inclusions creates a visual record of deep crustal material forcibly mixed during a high-energy collision.

The surface shows the characteristic texture of a melt breccia that cooled quickly after ejection. Mineral clasts protrude from the darker matrix, their orientations frozen mid-flow. This is not a simple fragmental breccia -- this is rock that was liquid, that flowed, that carried fragments of older lunar crust in its current before hardening in the vacuum of space.

Structure and melt characteristics

The flow banding in this specimen reflects the movement of impact-generated melt. As molten material spread across the lunar surface or within an impact crater, it carried clasts of anorthositic norite and gabbro -- minerals from deep within the Moon's crust. The banding formed as layers of different composition or cooling rate moved past each other, creating the streaked appearance visible across the specimen.

High-relief clasts interrupt the melt matrix throughout. These fragments represent older crustal rock that survived melting. Their sharp boundaries against the matrix indicate they were solid when incorporated. The recrystallized texture of the surrounding material shows rapid quenching -- the melt cooled fast enough to preserve fine-grained minerals rather than allowing large crystals to form.

Scientific context

Adrar 013 is classified as a lunar melt breccia composed primarily of anorthositic norite and gabbro. These rock types originate from the Moon's lower crust, where plagioclase feldspar mixes with pyroxene in varying proportions. The Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago through the collision of a Mars-sized body with early Earth. As the lunar magma ocean cooled, lighter plagioclase floated to form the anorthositic highlands while denser minerals sank. Later impacts excavated this layered crust and melted it, creating the breccias we find today.

The melt texture in this specimen formed during a crater-forming impact that generated enough heat to liquefy crustal rock. The molten material flowed briefly before cooling in the Moon's airless environment. Another, later impact ejected this solidified melt breccia from the lunar surface with enough velocity to escape the Moon's gravity. After drifting through space, it entered Earth's atmosphere and fell in Algeria in 2023. For more on how meteorites reach Earth from other worlds, see Learn About Meteorites.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? Yes. Adrar 013 is classified in the Meteoritical Bulletin as a lunar melt breccia (anorthositic norite/gabbro). You can verify this classification at Meteoritical Bulletin: Adrar 013. This specimen includes a certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co.

What does "melt breccia" mean? A melt breccia forms when impact energy melts rock, creating a liquid that flows and incorporates solid fragments (clasts) before cooling. The result is a mix of recrystallized melt matrix and unmelted mineral or rock fragments. The flow banding visible in this specimen is direct evidence of that molten movement.

What is included with this specimen? You receive the 8.08g complete lunar meteorite individual and a certificate of authenticity. No display stand is included.

Why is this meteorite from the Moon and not an asteroid? Lunar meteorites have diagnostic mineralogy and oxygen isotope ratios that match Apollo mission samples. The anorthositic composition and specific mineral assemblages in Adrar 013 are consistent only with lunar crustal material, not with any known asteroid type.

What is anorthositic norite/gabbro? Anorthosite is rock dominated by plagioclase feldspar. Norite and gabbro are both mixtures of plagioclase and pyroxene, with norite containing orthopyroxene and gabbro containing clinopyroxene. These classifications describe the relative abundances of minerals in the rock. In lunar meteorites, these compositions indicate origin from the Moon's ancient highland crust.

Why collectors pursue complete lunar individuals

Lunar meteorites represent less than 0.5% of all classified meteorites. Complete individuals -- specimens that retain their natural, uncut form -- are rarer still. Most lunar material on the market has been sliced to maximize the number of specimens available for sale. An 8.08g individual with preserved flow textures and no human intervention offers both scientific integrity and visual impact.

This specimen's size places it well above the typical lunar fragment. The flow banding and clast distribution remain intact across the entire piece, providing context that cut sections cannot preserve. For collectors building a Lunar Meteorites collection, complete individuals anchor the display with specimens that show exactly how the material existed in space.

The anorthositic norite/gabbro classification links this specimen to the Moon's deep crust -- not surface regolith, not mare basalt, but the ancient layered interior exposed by impact excavation. Combined with the melt breccia texture, this specimen documents both the Moon's original differentiation and its ongoing bombardment history. It is a tangible record of planetary-scale processes, held in a form that requires no cutting to appreciate.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: Adrar 013 | Classification: Lunar melt breccia (anorthositic norite/gabbro) | Find, Algeria, 2023