Specimen Description

Adrar 013 is a confirmed lunar meteorite, classified as a melt breccia (anorthositic norite/gabbro) and discovered in Algeria. This specimen represents authentic lunar material formed through intense impact melting on the Moon's surface. This specimen displays the distinctive features of lunar melt breccias: a dark, fine-grained matrix created by impact-melted lunar crustal material that was rapidly cooled and solidified. The anorthositic norite/gabbro composition indicates a mixture of plagioclase-rich highland material with mafic minerals like pyroxene and olivine, all fused together by the extreme heat and pressure of a major impact event. Unlike fragmental breccias, melt breccias like Adrar 013 show evidence of complete melting and recrystallization, preserving a snapshot of the violent impact processes that have shaped the lunar surface over billions of years. The igneous texture within this impact-generated rock makes it particularly interesting from both a scientific and aesthetic perspective.