Adrar 013 Lunar Meteorite Full Slice, Melt Breccia, 2.77g, Polished Both Faces

Polished both faces, a window into lunar impact melt

This 2.77g full slice of Adrar 013 has been polished on both faces, presenting matching mirror surfaces that reveal the meteorite's interior structure on either side. The slice shows the characteristic appearance of lunar melt breccia: a light-toned anorthositic matrix interspersed with darker mafic mineral phases, all frozen in place from the impact melt that formed this rock on the Moon's surface. As a full slice rather than an end cut, every face is finished, making it suitable for display from either orientation or for educational use where both sides need to be visible.

Structure and features

Adrar 013 is classified as a lunar melt breccia of anorthositic norite/gabbro composition. The petrographic description from the Meteoritical Bulletin identifies an anorthite-rich melt rock matrix exhibiting flow and quench textures, with acicular crystals nucleating on entrained mineral grains. The major mineral phases are pigeonite, often-zoned augite, and less abundant olivine, with accessory ilmenite, chromite, and troilite. This 2.77g slice exposes that mineralogy across two polished surfaces, allowing direct visual study of the impact-melt fabric without the obscuring effects of weathering rind. The slice carries a high shock stage assignment, consistent with formation in a major impact event on the lunar surface, and a low weathering grade, indicating limited terrestrial alteration since its arrival on Earth.

Scientific context

Adrar 013 was recovered in 2023 in the Adrar region of Algeria and purchased from a dealer in Timokten. The Meteoritical Bulletin reports a total known weight of 3.15 kg, with the largest single stone weighing 3 kg. Classification was carried out by A. Greshake at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and applies the reference framework of Stoeffler et al. (1980) for lunar lithologies. The meteorite was published as an official lunar in Meteoritical Bulletin 113 in 2025. Lunar meteorites of any classification are rare, with the total recognized lunar inventory representing a small fraction of all classified meteorites, and impact melt breccias like Adrar 013 capture a specific moment in lunar surface geology when an impact event melted and reassembled near-surface material.

Frequently asked questions

How do we know this is from the Moon? Lunar classification relies on bulk chemistry, mineralogy, and oxygen isotope ratios that match returned Apollo and Luna samples. Adrar 013 was classified by a recognized lunar specialist at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and published in the Meteoritical Bulletin.

What does anorthositic norite/gabbro mean? It describes the source rock composition: dominated by calcium-rich plagioclase (anorthite) with pyroxene and minor olivine, typical of lunar highland and near-highland lithologies that have been reassembled by impact melting.

Why is this slice polished on both faces? Full slices are cut with parallel faces and finished on both sides so the entire specimen can be displayed or studied from either orientation. End cuts, by contrast, keep one natural exterior face.

How should I care for it? Keep the specimen in a dry environment and handle the polished faces with cotton gloves or by the edges. Lunar meteorites do not contain reactive iron metal in the quantities that iron meteorites do, but oils and moisture can still dull a polished surface over time.

What is included? The 2.77g full slice, a numbered Certificate of Authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., a specimen card with classification details, and a display box.

Collector significance

Adrar 013 is a recently published lunar meteorite, recognized as official in 2025, which makes well-documented slices of it desirable for both new and established lunar collectors. The combination of a manageable total known weight (3.15 kg), a clear classification by a major institution, and full polishing on both faces makes this 2.77g specimen useful for display, study, and educational presentation. Explore more lunar material in our Lunar Meteorites collection and learn more in our guide to What Is a Lunar Meteorite?

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