Laayoune 002 Lunar Feldspathic Breccia Full Slice 4.80g

A full slice of the lunar highlands

This is a complete slice of Laâyoune 002, a lunar meteorite classified as a feldspathic breccia. The piece weighs 4.80 grams and carries a mirror polish on one face, which brings the brecciated interior into sharp relief and reflects cleanly when turned in the light. Material like this began as part of the Moon's ancient crust before an impact launched it off the lunar surface and sent it to Earth.

Structure and features

The cut face shows the texture of a breccia: pale clasts ranging from white to light gray set against darker gray lithic fragments, all bound in a finer grained matrix. A network of thin pale veins threads across the surface, with scattered tan and orange iron staining picked up during the meteorite's time in the desert. The polish on one side holds a reflective finish that defines the clast boundaries, while the slice itself is thin in profile, as the edge view shows. At 4.80 grams it sits comfortably on a small stand or in the hand.

Discovery and provenance

Laâyoune 002 was found in January 2022 near Laayoune, in the Saguia el Hamra region of Western Sahara, and was purchased from the finder by Aziz Habibi. The recovered material lacks fusion crust and shows a gray color with whitish clasts visible throughout. The meteorite was classified by A. Irving and P. Carpenter and published in the Meteoritical Bulletin, MB 111 (2023). The type specimen, a 20.7 gram polished endcut, is held in an institutional collection, with the main mass retained by A. Habibi.

Scientific context

Feldspathic breccias come from the lunar highlands, the light colored anorthositic crust that covers most of the Moon's far side and much of its surface. The Meteoritical Bulletin entry describes Laâyoune 002 as a breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, orthopyroxene, pigeonite and augite, with accessory ilmenite and chromite and minor secondary barite. The plagioclase is highly calcic, with anorthite content measured at An96.1 to An97.7, which is the composition expected of feldspar from the lunar highland crust. Lunar feldspathic breccias of this kind are compositional analogs to the highland material returned by the Apollo missions, which is part of how a lunar origin is established.

Frequently asked questions

How is a meteorite confirmed to be lunar?
Lunar meteorites are identified through mineral chemistry, petrography and isotopic study, then reviewed and published by the Meteoritical Society. Laâyoune 002 was classified by A. Irving and P. Carpenter and entered into the Meteoritical Bulletin database as a lunar feldspathic breccia. The highly calcic anorthite and the overall feldspathic composition match material from the lunar highlands.

Why is the name spelled with a circumflex?
The official Meteoritical Bulletin name is Laâyoune 002, with a circumflex over the first a. Plain spellings such as Laayoune 002 refer to the same officially named meteorite.

Is this the same as other Laâyoune numbered stones?
Western Sahara is a dense collection area where finds are given sequential numbers. Laâyoune 002 is its own officially named and separately classified meteorite.

How should the slice be stored and handled?
Handle with clean gloves and keep it in a dry environment. As a desert find it is best kept away from humidity to protect the cut surfaces over the long term.

Why this matters to a collection

Lunar meteorites account for a small portion of all classified meteorites, and feldspathic breccias represent the Moon's primary crust rather than its volcanic plains. A complete slice with a polished display face lets the brecciated texture be read directly, from individual clasts to the vein network running through the matrix. This specimen is offered by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., IMCA Member #3323.

Classification and provenance for this specimen follow the official Meteoritical Bulletin entry for Laâyoune 002, viewable at the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Unless specifically stated in titles and descriptions, all meteorites sold by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. are scientifically classified specimens with Meteoritical Bulletin citations.