Rabt Sbayta 007 Lunar Meteorite Slice, Feldspathic Breccia, 1.58g, Complete Full Slice

A complete slice of lunar highland crust

This 1.58g slice captures the full cross-section of a Rabt Sbayta 007 specimen, revealing the brecciated texture that defines feldspathic breccia meteorites. The slice displays a mosaic of angular clasts embedded in a fine-grained matrix, preserving the impact-processed regolith from the Moon's ancient highland regions. The complete slice format allows observation of how individual mineral fragments and lithic clasts distribute throughout the specimen, showing the mechanical mixing that occurred during repeated meteorite bombardment of the lunar surface.

Rabt Sbayta 007 represents material ejected from the Moon's feldspathic highlands, the bright, heavily cratered terrain visible from Earth. The slice shows the characteristic light coloration of plagioclase-rich lunar crust, with clast boundaries and matrix structure visible across the entire face. This specimen was recovered from Western Sahara in 2017 and classified as a feldspathic breccia based on its mineral composition and oxygen isotope ratios that match Apollo sample data.

Brecciation and lunar regolith structure

The slice exhibits the fragmental texture produced by billions of years of meteorite impacts on the lunar surface. Angular mineral fragments, ranging from sub-millimeter to several millimeters across, sit within a finer-grained matrix that formed from pulverized lunar soil. This structure records the gardening process that churns the upper few meters of the Moon's surface, mixing and lithifying loose regolith into consolidated breccia through impact heat and pressure.

Plagioclase feldspar dominates the mineralogy, giving the specimen its light appearance and connecting it to the anorthositic crust that forms the lunar highlands. The absence of fusion crust on this interior slice reveals the unweathered texture of the breccia, showing how impact-generated structures appear in lunar rocks before atmospheric entry modified their surfaces.

Scientific context

Feldspathic breccias originate from the Moon's highlands, which formed during the early differentiation of the lunar magma ocean approximately 4.4 billion years ago. As the Moon's molten surface cooled, plagioclase feldspar crystallized and floated to form a thick anorthositic crust. Subsequent bombardment shattered this crust into fragments that were repeatedly broken, mixed, and welded together by impact processes. Rabt Sbayta 007 preserves this impact history, providing a sample of ancient lunar crust that was excavated by a meteorite strike powerful enough to launch material beyond the Moon's gravitational pull.

Lunar meteorites account for a tiny fraction of all classified meteorites, with feldspathic breccias representing the most common lunar meteorite type due to the extensive area covered by highland terrain. These specimens complement the Apollo and Luna sample collections by providing material from regions of the Moon not visited by spacecraft missions. For collectors and researchers, feldspathic breccias offer direct access to the composition and structure of the lunar crust. Learn About Meteorites provides additional context on meteorite classification and planetary geology.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? Rabt Sbayta 007 is classified in the Meteoritical Bulletin as a lunar feldspathic breccia. You can verify the classification through the Meteoritical Bulletin database. This specimen includes a certificate of authenticity confirming its classification and provenance.

What is feldspathic breccia? Feldspathic breccia is a rock type composed primarily of plagioclase feldspar fragments that have been mechanically broken and re-cemented by impact processes. On the Moon, these breccias form in the highland regions where the ancient anorthositic crust has been pulverized by billions of years of meteorite bombardment. The term feldspathic refers to the high plagioclase content, while breccia describes the fragmental texture.

What is included with this specimen? This listing includes the 1.58g lunar meteorite slice, a certificate of authenticity, a custom specimen card with classification details, and a display box for storage and presentation.

How did this Moon rock reach Earth? A meteorite impact on the lunar surface ejected this material with sufficient velocity to escape the Moon's gravity. The fragment traveled through space, eventually intersecting Earth's orbit and falling as a meteorite. The Western Sahara recovery location suggests it survived atmospheric entry and was discovered during systematic meteorite searching in the desert.

Why are complete slices significant for collectors? Complete slices preserve the full cross-sectional view of a meteorite specimen, showing internal structure and texture across the entire piece rather than just a partial window. For lunar breccias, complete slices reveal how clasts distribute throughout the matrix and demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of impact-processed regolith.

Display-ready lunar specimen

At 1.58g, this slice provides a complete view of lunar highland breccia structure in a size suitable for close examination and display. The full cross-section format shows the distribution of clasts and matrix throughout the specimen, offering more interpretive value than partial slices or fragments. The light coloration and brecciated texture make the lunar origin visually apparent, while the complete slice geometry presents well in the included display box.

Lunar meteorites remain relatively scarce in collections compared to asteroidal material, with feldspathic breccias representing the most accessible entry point into lunar specimen collecting. This slice combines scientific significance with visual clarity, showing the impact-processed structure of ancient lunar crust in a complete cross-sectional format. Collectors building Lunar Meteorites collections will find this specimen documents the highland breccia type that dominates the Moon's oldest visible surfaces.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: Rabt Sbayta 007 | Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia) | Find, Western Sahara, 2017