Rabt Sbayta 007 Lunar Meteorite Slice, Feldspathic Breccia, 4.60g, Cross-Section

Lunar feldspathic breccia slice from the Moon's highlands

This 4.60g slice preserves a cross-section of Rabt Sbayta 007, a feldspathic breccia from the lunar highlands. The specimen displays the characteristic pale matrix of plagioclase feldspar-dominated material, representing the ancient anorthositic crust that defines the Moon's bright highland terrain. The slice format captures the full thickness of the meteorite fragment, providing a display piece that shows both surfaces and the internal structure in a single specimen.

Feldspathic breccias form when high-velocity impacts on the lunar surface shatter and mix highland rocks, creating a consolidated mixture of angular clasts and finer matrix material. This specimen originated from the Moon's farside or polar highlands, where ancient cratering events continue to rework the feldspar-rich crust. A subsequent impact launched this material into space, where it drifted until intersecting Earth's orbit and landing in Western Sahara in 2017.

Lunar highland composition and texture

The slice exhibits the pale gray coloration typical of feldspathic material, dominated by calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar that formed during the lunar magma ocean differentiation approximately 4.4 billion years ago. Angular mineral fragments appear throughout the matrix, evidence of the impact processes that created this breccia. The surfaces show the fusion crust characteristics of atmospheric entry, though the interior reveals the primary brecciated texture formed on the Moon.

Feldspathic breccias contain higher concentrations of aluminum and calcium compared to mare basalts, reflecting their origin in the primordial lunar crust. This specimen's classification confirms its lunar origin through oxygen isotope ratios, noble gas compositions, and mineral chemistry that match Apollo sample data from highland collection sites.

Scientific context

Lunar meteorites provide the only samples from the Moon available to private collectors and researchers outside of government-controlled Apollo and Luna mission returns. Feldspathic breccias represent the Moon's ancient highland terrains, the light-colored regions visible from Earth that contrast with the darker maria. These meteorites record impact gardening processes that have continuously modified the lunar surface for over four billion years.

The Moon lacks plate tectonics and atmospheric weathering, preserving impact structures and surface processes that have been erased on Earth. Studying feldspathic breccias reveals the composition of the original lunar crust and documents the intense bombardment history of the inner solar system. This specimen contributes to understanding highland lithologies from regions never sampled by human missions. Learn About Meteorites to discover how scientists classify and authenticate lunar specimens.

Frequently asked questions

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

What is a feldspathic breccia? A feldspathic breccia is a rock composed primarily of plagioclase feldspar fragments that have been broken apart and cemented together by impact processes. On the Moon, these breccias form in the ancient highland crust when meteorite impacts shatter feldspar-rich rocks and fuse the debris into cohesive specimens.

What is included with this specimen? You receive the 4.60g slice, a certificate of authenticity, a specimen information card with classification details, and a protective display box designed for long-term storage and presentation.

How did this reach Earth from the Moon? A high-energy asteroid or comet impact on the lunar 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 captured it, resulting in atmospheric entry and recovery in Western Sahara.

Can I display this without special storage? Lunar meteorites are stable under normal indoor conditions. The display box protects the specimen from handling and dust accumulation while allowing clear viewing. The fusion crust and internal structure remain visible through the box.

Collector significance

Lunar meteorites represent approximately 0.3% of all classified meteorite falls and finds, making them substantially rarer than most iron and stony meteorite types. Complete slices that preserve the full thickness of the original fragment offer display advantages over partial sections, showing both the exterior fusion crust and interior brecciated structure simultaneously. At 4.60g, this specimen provides a substantial example of highland material at a size that displays well while remaining accessible to collectors building comprehensive Moon rock collections.

The feldspathic breccia classification connects this specimen to the Moon's most ancient crustal components, material that predates the mare basalt flows by hundreds of millions of years. Collectors seeking examples of primordial planetary differentiation processes value feldspathic specimens for their scientific context and their representation of terrains that dominate the lunar farside. The included display box and documentation support both personal enjoyment and potential future education or research applications. Browse our complete Lunar Meteorites collection to compare highland and mare specimens from Earth's only natural satellite.

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