NWA 18211 Lunar Meteorite, Troctolitic Anorthosite Melt Breccia, 2, 576.00g, Complete Main Mass

NWA 18211 is one of only five meteorites in the world officially classified as a lunar troctolitic anorthosite melt breccia. That designation appears exactly five times in the entire Meteoritical Bulletin database. This is the complete main mass.

The specimen

This 2,576g stone is the complete main mass of NWA 18211, purchased in Morocco in 2025 and officially classified by the Meteoritical Society on December 21, 2025 (MB 114). No other piece of this meteorite exists in private hands. The type specimen, 20.14g, resides at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología in Tenerife, Spain. What is offered here is everything else.

At kilogram scale, a complete lunar meteorite individual of this classification has no meaningful comparison on the open market. The overwhelming majority of lunar meteorites available to collectors are measured in single or double-digit grams. A 2.576kg intact individual, in a classification represented by five approved specimens globally, occupies a category of its own.

Classification and scientific context

Troctolitic anorthosites represent some of the oldest material recoverable from the Moon. They formed during the earliest stage of lunar differentiation, when the global magma ocean was cooling and anorthitic plagioclase crystallized and floated to form the primordial highland crust. The olivine component places this lithology within the troctolitic suite, associated with the deep ancient highlands. The melt breccia texture records a subsequent chapter: one or more hypervelocity impacts energetic enough to partially melt the target rock and preserve fragments of the original troctolitic anorthosite within a shock-generated matrix. This stone encodes both the Moon's primordial crust and the violent processes that shaped it over billions of years.

Classification was performed by J. Garcia at ADARA, Canary Islands. Petrographic analysis confirmed plagioclase averaging An97.9, reflecting the extreme anorthite enrichment characteristic of the lunar highland crust. FeO/MnO ratios in olivine and pyroxene fall within the lunar range, consistent with Apollo highland samples and unambiguously distinct from terrestrial or Martian material. The shock stage is recorded as high. Weathering grade is moderate, consistent with a Northwest African find of recent recovery.

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.

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 NWA 18211 officially classified? Yes. NWA 18211 carries official status in the Meteoritical Bulletin, published in MB 114 and approved December 21, 2025. Classification as Lunar (troctolitic anorthosite melt breccia) was performed by J. Garcia at ADARA, with the type specimen deposited at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología in Tenerife, Spain. The full record is available at the official Meteoritical Bulletin entry for NWA 18211.

What does troctolitic anorthosite melt breccia mean? Troctolitic anorthosite describes one of the oldest rock types recoverable from the Moon, composed primarily of anorthitic plagioclase with olivine, formed during the earliest cooling of the lunar magma ocean. Melt breccia indicates the rock was subsequently processed by one or more large impacts that partially melted the original material and preserved fragments within a shock-generated matrix. The classification captures both the ancient origin and the violent impact history recorded in this stone.

How is lunar origin confirmed? Lunar origin is established through geochemical fingerprinting. The FeO/MnO ratios in olivine and pyroxene match the lunar value range established by Apollo samples. Plagioclase averaging An97.9 is characteristic of the lunar highland crust and essentially absent in terrestrial or Martian rocks. These indicators, combined with the petrographic texture and the absence of hydrous alteration, confirm this material originated on the Moon.

Why is a complete individual significant? Most meteorites, and nearly all lunars, fragment during atmospheric passage or on impact with the ground. A complete intact individual of this mass is uncommon in any classification. Combined with the extreme rarity of the troctolitic anorthosite melt breccia designation, this specimen is unlikely to be replicated on the open market at any price point.

What documentation is included? The sale includes full provenance documentation, the Meteoritical Bulletin citation (MB 114), and a formal invoice referencing the MetBull entry. Classification imagery from ADARA is available upon request. This specimen is guaranteed authentic by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., IMCA #3323.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: NWA 18211 | Classification: Lunar (troctolitic anorthosite melt breccia) | Find, Northwest Africa, 2025 | MB 114, approved December 21, 2025 | Classifier: J. Garcia, ADARA | Type specimen: 20.14g, MUNA, Tenerife

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