Guemar 002 Lunar Meteorite Individual, Lunar (basalt) unbrecciated, 45.92g, Complete Fusion Crust

Guemar 002 is one of 33 approved meteorites in the world classified as Lunar (basalt). This 45.92g complete individual was among four oriented stones discovered together on February 10, 2023, in El-Alia, Touggurt Province, Algeria, all four retaining fresh fusion crust on recovery. This stone preserves that crust intact.

The specimen

This 45.92g stone is a complete, unmodified individual with no cuts, polishing, or preparation beyond documentation. The exterior carries a black, shiny fusion crust, the glassy veneer formed during atmospheric entry, preserved here in fresh condition. The interior is gray, consistent with the fine-grained basaltic mineralogy confirmed by thin section analysis at the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory.

At 45.92g, this specimen sits well above the 1 to 20g range that defines most complete lunar individuals reaching the private market. More importantly, it is unbrecciated, a categorical distinction from the regolith and impact-melt breccias that constitute the large majority of recovered lunar material.

Classification and scientific context

Guemar 002 is classified in the Meteoritical Bulletin (MB 114, approved July 25, 2025) as Lunar (basalt), recovered from Ouargla, Algeria. Classification was performed by V. Mugica, D. Sheikh, and M. Hutson at the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory, Portland State University. The type specimen, 20.1g, is held at Cascadia.

The unbrecciated designation is the scientifically significant feature of this specimen. The Moon's surface has been heavily reworked by impacts across billions of years, and nearly all lunar material ejected to Earth arrives as regolith breccia, fragmented and compacted surface debris. A rock that escaped that processing preserves its primary igneous fabric from the original lava cooling event intact. To understand how meteorites are classified, see our guide to how meteorites are classified.

Thin section analysis documents a sub-ophitic texture with shock melt pockets. Maskelynite laths are distributed throughout the sample. Maskelynite is plagioclase feldspar converted to amorphous glass by hypervelocity shock pressures, retaining the original chemical composition and lath morphology of the feldspar while losing its crystalline structure. Its presence records the impact event that launched the rock off the Moon. The published shock stage is M-S5. Olivine grains show zoned compositions with magnesian cores and thin Fe-rich rims, and pyroxene grains display complex zonation, consistent with a slowly cooled igneous rock subjected to later shock processing.

Published geochemistry by SEM-EDS (Cascadia, lab number CML 1816): olivine Fa50.8±15.6 (Fe/Mn=92±6, n=19); pigeonite Fs52.4±10.5Wo15.1±2.9 (Fe/Mn=60±6, n=10); high-Ca pyroxene Fs40.6±11.0Wo25.5±11.0 (Fe/Mn=57±8, n=18); maskelynite An87.6±0.7 (n=19). Minor sulfides, phosphates, and titanomagnetite are also present. Classification as lunar basalt is based on texture, grain size, and mineral chemistry.

These lavas originated from partial melting of the lunar mantle and flooded impact basins between approximately 3.9 and 3.0 billion years ago, forming the dark maria visible from Earth. Apollo sampling covered only the equatorial near-side; lunar meteorites like Guemar 002 extend the sampled volcanic geology of the Moon beyond the mission footprint.

Acquisition

This specimen is offered via private sale. Purchase may be completed by bank wire transfer following invoice and confirmation of terms. A formal invoice and purchase agreement will be issued prior to payment. Escrow is available for qualified buyers upon request. Delivery is arranged through insured white-glove shipping with coordinated handling.

This specimen ships with a certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. (IMCA #3323) documenting its Meteoritical Bulletin classification and provenance. No display stand is included.

Serious acquisition inquiries only. Contact brian@tcmeteorites.com or visit our White Glove Service page for institutional and private treaty inquiries.

Frequently asked questions

Is Guemar 002 officially classified?
Yes. Guemar 002 is approved in the Meteoritical Bulletin, MB 114 (approved July 25, 2025), as Lunar (basalt), recovered from Ouargla, Algeria on February 10, 2023. Classification was conducted by V. Mugica, D. Sheikh, and M. Hutson at the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory, Portland State University.

What does "unbrecciated" mean and why does it matter?
Unbrecciated means the rock has not been shattered and re-cemented by later impact processes. It preserves the original igneous texture from when the lava cooled on the Moon. Most lunar meteorites are breccias, mixtures of rock fragments produced by billions of years of surface gardening. Unbrecciated mare basalts are substantially less common and represent primary volcanic material rather than mixed surface debris.

What is maskelynite and what does it indicate?
Maskelynite is plagioclase feldspar converted to amorphous glass by hypervelocity shock, without melting. It retains the original chemical composition and lath morphology of the feldspar while losing its crystalline structure. Its presence records the impact event that launched the rock off the Moon. The published shock stage for this specimen is M-S5.

How is lunar origin confirmed?
Lunar meteorites plot on the terrestrial oxygen isotope fractionation line but differ from Earth rocks in mineral chemistry and volatile content. Combined with petrographic features matching Apollo samples, the sub-ophitic igneous texture, and diagnostic FeO/MnO ratios in olivine and pyroxene consistent with lunar basalts, these indicators confirm lunar origin. For more on how lunar meteorites are identified, see our Learn section.

What documentation is included?
A certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. (IMCA #3323) referencing the Meteoritical Bulletin entry for Guemar 002, MB 114. Classification imagery is available upon request.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: Guemar 002 | Classification: Lunar (basalt) | Find, El-Alia, Ouargla, Algeria, 2023 Feb 10 | MB 114, approved July 25, 2025 | Classifier: V. Mugica, D. Sheikh, and M. Hutson, Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory | Type specimen: 20.1g, Cascadia

Offered by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., IMCA #3323. Browse our Lunar Meteorites collection for additional authenticated lunar specimens.