Shergottite / Mars Rock, Sahara Desert, Morocco. Photo Heritage Auctions

This is a large end piece of the planet Mars - and is the main mass (the largest existing specimen) of the Martian Meteorite NWA 7397. Found in 2012, NWA 7397 contains large ovoid crystals - many of which are chatoyant.

The large salmon-hued oikocrysts (crystals that contain other crystals) are composed of low calcium pyroxene, which enclose crystals of olivine and chromite.

The reverse is blanketed in fusion crust, an artifact of the meteorite's fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere (where temperatures reached during frictional heating are hotter than the surface of the sun!). NWA 7397 shares the compositional and isotopic fingerprint of other Martian meteorites.

The determination of Martian origin is the result of research having been conducted by hundreds of scientists throughout the world. (For more information on the proof of Martian origin, see the following description for Lot 87320.)

The lead author of the scientific abstract on NWA 7397 is Dr. Anthony Irving, the world's foremost classifier of planetary meteorites, and his analysis accompanies this specimen.

The other end piece from this meteorite, which is significantly smaller, was recently acquired by a museum. Meteorites from Mars are among the most exotic substances on Earth - less than 300 pounds are known to exist.

The delivery mechanism to Earth was an asteroid impact on the Martian surface, which jettisoned material off Mars into an Earth-intersecting orbit, and now offered is the main mass of an incomparable representation.

It measures 5.25 x 3.25 x 1.5 inches (133 x 82 x 38 mm) and weighs 1.37 pounds (623.95 grams). [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $160,000 - $180,000

Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com