Laayoune 002 Lunar Meteorite Individual -- Feldspathic Breccia, 31.95g, Complete Moon Rock

A complete individual from the lunar highlands

This 31.95g Laayoune 002 specimen preserves the full natural form of a lunar meteorite that traveled from the Moon to Earth. The stone displays the pale coloration characteristic of feldspathic breccias, material excavated from the Moon's ancient highland crust. The surface shows subtle texture variations where anorthositic clasts embedded in a fine-grained matrix create a mosaic pattern distinct to this lunar breccia type. This complete individual retains its natural weathered surface from its time in the Western Sahara, where it was recovered in 2022.

The specimen's mass places it among the more substantial complete individuals available from this classified lunar fall. Its intact form allows observation of the three-dimensional brecciation structure that formed during impact events on the Moon's surface billions of years ago. The stone sits comfortably in hand, displaying the pale gray tones that distinguish highland material from the darker basaltic lunar samples.

Feldspathic breccia structure

Laayoune 002 classifies as a feldspathic breccia, meaning it consists predominantly of plagioclase feldspar fragments cemented together by impact processes. Under magnification, the specimen reveals angular clasts of anorthosite embedded in a fine-grained matrix. These clasts represent fragments of the Moon's primordial crust, which formed when plagioclase crystals floated to the surface of the lunar magma ocean more than 4.4 billion years ago.

The brecciation texture resulted from meteoroid impacts on the Moon's surface that shattered and mixed crustal material. Subsequent impact events welded these fragments together without melting them completely, preserving the original mineralogy. The pale color reflects the high feldspar content, typically 90% or more plagioclase in feldspathic breccias. This composition contrasts sharply with the iron-rich basalts that form the dark lunar maria.

Scientific context

Feldspathic breccias like Laayoune 002 originate from the Moon's ancient highlands, the light-colored terrain visible from Earth that covers approximately 83% of the lunar surface. These regions preserve the Moon's oldest crustal material, dating back to the magma ocean period shortly after the Moon's formation 4.5 billion years ago. The highlands experienced intense bombardment during the Late Heavy Bombardment period, roughly 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago, which created the brecciated texture observed in this specimen.

Analysis of lunar feldspathic breccias provides data on highland composition that complements but differs from the Apollo and Luna mission samples, which primarily collected mare basalts. The anorthositic composition confirms theoretical models of lunar differentiation and magma ocean crystallization. Each lunar meteorite that reaches Earth expands our sampling of the Moon's surface beyond the limited areas accessed by spacecraft missions. Learn About Meteorites to understand how scientists use these specimens to reconstruct planetary formation processes.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? Laayoune 002 received official classification as a lunar feldspathic breccia and appears in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Meteoritical Bulletin entry: Laayoune 002 | Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia) | Find, Western Sahara, 2022. This specimen includes a certificate of authenticity documenting its classification and chain of custody.

What makes this a complete individual? A complete individual meteorite retains its full original form as it was recovered, without cutting or breaking. This 31.95g stone preserves its natural surface and three-dimensional structure from its fall to Earth, allowing observation of the specimen as a discrete object rather than a fragment of a larger mass.

How did this rock travel from the Moon to Earth? A meteoroid impact on the Moon's surface ejected this material at velocities exceeding the Moon's escape velocity of 2.4 km/s. The fragment orbited the Sun until gravitational interactions with Earth brought it into our atmosphere, where it survived entry and landed in the Western Sahara. This process typically requires impact events energetic enough to excavate craters several kilometers in diameter.

What is included with this specimen? The specimen weighs 31.95g and includes a certificate of authenticity documenting its classification and provenance. No display stand is included unless specifically noted in the product details.

How do scientists confirm lunar origin? Laboratory analysis measures oxygen isotope ratios, which match lunar samples returned by Apollo missions exactly. Feldspathic composition with high plagioclase content, specific mineral chemistry, and the presence of solar wind implanted noble gases further confirm lunar origin. These signatures distinguish lunar meteorites from terrestrial rocks and other meteorite types definitively.

Collector significance

Lunar meteorites constitute less than one percent of all classified meteorite falls, making them among the scarcest specimen types available to private collectors. Laayoune 002 specifically offers access to highland crustal material, the dominant lunar terrain type that remains undersampled compared to mare regions. Complete individuals command particular interest because they preserve natural form and allow three-dimensional study of brecciation patterns without the constraints of cut faces.

This 31.95g mass represents a substantial complete stone suitable for both display and study. The specimen's size allows clear observation of clast distribution while remaining accessible to collectors building comprehensive Lunar Meteorites holdings. For institutions and advanced collectors, feldspathic breccias provide material for comparative analysis with Apollo highlands samples and contribute data on lunar crustal composition. This specimen offers direct physical connection to the Moon's ancient history at a scale that permits detailed examination of the processes that shaped the lunar surface during the solar system's first billion years.