{"product_id":"amgala-001-martian-meteorite-shergottite-from-mars-43-0g-w-coa","title":"Amgala 001 Olivine-Phyric Shergottite Meteorite Complete Individual, 43.00g, Sahara 2022 Find, Basaltic Crust from Mars","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA substantial 43.00g complete individual of Martian basalt\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 43.00g, this complete individual of Amgala 001 represents a significant piece of Martian olivine-phyric shergottite, the kind of intact specimen that anchors a serious meteorite collection rather than supplements one. The stone is unbroken with no cut faces, no fractures, and the original shape preserved in full from its time on the Martian surface through ejection, the journey to Earth, and recovery in the Western Sahara. Specimens of this size are increasingly difficult to find from the Amgala 001 supply as the original 34.67 kg recovery has been progressively cut and dispersed into smaller pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eForm and surface character\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe specimen presents in pale tan to peach tones with darker patches of underlying basaltic shergottite visible across the surface. The natural contours of the stone, including subtle regmaglypts and the irregular outline that records its original shape, read clearly through the exterior. The pale coating is largely caliche, a calcium carbonate deposit laid down by groundwater during the meteorite's residence in calcareous Saharan soil and a normal terrestrial signature on desert finds. It is the surface counterpart to the secondary calcite veinlets that the published petrography documents within the interior of Amgala 001.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eOlivine-phyric shergottite from the basaltic crust of Mars\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShergottites are basaltic igneous rocks that crystallized from volcanic activity on the Martian surface, forming the largest group of Martian meteorites recovered on Earth. They sample the basaltic crust that dominates the planet's surface geology, providing direct laboratory access to material from another world. The Mars origin of shergottites is confirmed through analysis of trapped gases in shock-melted glass pockets, which match the Martian atmospheric composition measured directly by Viking and subsequent Mars missions. Olivine-phyric shergottites like Amgala 001 are distinguished by large olivine phenocrysts (up to 2mm in this meteorite) set in a finer groundmass of zoned clinopyroxene and lath-like maskelynite, the latter a dense glass formed when plagioclase feldspar was shock-converted under impact pressures. Radioisotope dating of shergottites consistently returns crystallization ages between roughly 150 and 600 million years, far younger than the planet itself, evidence that volcanic activity continued well into the Amazonian period, the most recent geological era on Mars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more on how meteorites are classified and connected to their parent bodies, visit our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tcmeteorites.com\/pages\/learn-about-meteorites\"\u003eLearn About Meteorites\u003c\/a\u003e resource page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this meteorite authenticated?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Amgala 001 is classified in the Meteoritical Bulletin as a Martian shergottite (olivine-phyric). View the official entry: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lpi.usra.edu\/meteor\/metbull.php?code=79965\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAmgala 001\u003c\/a\u003e. Every specimen ships with a Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. certificate of authenticity and a specimen card listing the classification details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do we know this rock is from Mars?\u003c\/strong\u003e Trapped gases inside shock-melted glass pockets within shergottites match the composition of the Martian atmosphere measured by Viking and later spacecraft. The isotopic ratios of argon, nitrogen, and xenon in these gases are unique to Mars and rule out any terrestrial or other planetary origin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the pale coating on the surface?\u003c\/strong\u003e That is caliche, a calcium carbonate deposit laid down by groundwater during the meteorite's residence in calcareous Saharan soil. It is a common terrestrial weathering signature on Sahara finds and does not affect the scientific classification or authenticity of the specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a complete individual or a fragment?\u003c\/strong\u003e Complete individual. The specimen has no cut faces, no breaks, and no fractures. It retains the natural shape it carried when it landed in the Western Sahara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a shergottite?\u003c\/strong\u003e Shergottites are basaltic igneous rocks that crystallized from volcanic lava on Mars, sampling the basaltic crust that dominates the planet's surface. They are named after the Shergotty meteorite that fell in India in 1865 and form the largest subgroup of Martian meteorites. Olivine-phyric shergottites, the subtype to which Amgala 001 belongs, contain prominent olivine phenocrysts set in a finer-grained basaltic matrix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eWhat's included\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 43.00g Amgala 001 complete individual, a membrane display box, a custom crescent display stand, a Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. certificate of authenticity, and a specimen card listing classification details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eCollector significance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartian meteorites represent under 0.5 percent of all classified meteorites worldwide and remain one of the rarest categories available to private collectors. Amgala 001 entered the market in late 2022 from a single recovery in Western Sahara totaling 34.67 kg, and supply has tightened considerably since the initial offerings. This 43.00g complete individual is a substantial piece by Amgala 001 standards, the kind of mass and intact form that hold their value as smaller fragments and slices flood the secondary market. The specimen represents olivine-phyric basalt from the volcanic crust of Mars, ejected by an impact and carried to Earth as a single intact stone. The included crescent display stand presents the piece in a way that highlights its irregular natural form, while the membrane box provides protected storage when not on display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tcmeteorites.com\/collections\/martian-meteorites\"\u003eMartian Meteorites collection\u003c\/a\u003e or explore additional planetary and achondrite material in the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tcmeteorites.com\/collections\/stony-meteorites\"\u003eStony Meteorites collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\u003ch2\u003eClassification reference\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeteoritical Bulletin: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lpi.usra.edu\/meteor\/metbull.php?code=79965\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAmgala 001\u003c\/a\u003e | Classification: Martian (olivine-phyric shergottite) | Find: Saguia el Hamra, Western Sahara, December 2022 | Total Known Weight: 34.67 kg\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasure Coast Meteorite Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44746926063663,"sku":"AMGALA-001-43.0G-INDIVIDUAL","price":4300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/9724\/9839\/files\/De4Baon1FYqJ6-kP7NKT2QQ_0_gps_generated.png?v=1779856755","url":"https:\/\/www.tcmeteorites.com\/products\/amgala-001-martian-meteorite-shergottite-from-mars-43-0g-w-coa","provider":"Treasure Coast Meteorite Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}