This rock came from Mars — and it’s about to be sold for $4 million

Imagine owning the ultimate piece of space memorabilia - a rare meteorite that landed on Earth after an incredible 36 million-mile journey through the solar system.

The world’s most expensive meteorite discovered in China

There is an avid collectors’ market for these stone, iron and nickel pieces of space debris. Most will fetch tens of thousands at auction but particularly rare ones can sell for eye-watering figures. The Fukang meteorite, a huge nickel-iron pallasite laced with olivine crystals, was unearthed in the mountains near Fukang, China, in 2000. The 4.5-billion year-old pallasite, was priced at $2 million when it went to auction at Bonhams in April 2008.

That record could soon be broken when Meteorite NWA 16788 goes under the gavel at Sotheby’s in London later this month. Described as “the largest piece of Mars on Earth”, Meteorite NWA 16788 weighs a hefty 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms) and has an estimate of $2 million- $4 million. The current bid is $1.6 million.

Martian Meteorite flung into space by asteroid strike

It is believed that Meteorite NWA 16788, a chunk of Mars’ surface, was ejected into outer space after a particularly violent asteroid hit. After traveling 36 million miles, it landed in the Sahara Desert in Niger’s Agadez region where it was discovered in November 2023.

Only 400 known Martian meteorites exist and NWA 16788 is the largest and the rarest. It’s composition is 21.2% maskelynite (a crystalized glass material) pyroxene and olivine. It is a microgabbroic meteorite, which further increases its rarity.

So if you fancy owning your very own piece of Mars, this unique space rock will be sold to the highest bidder at Sotheby’s auction house on 16 July.

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