Tissint Mars Meteorite for Sale

Scientists discover carbon in Tissint Mars meteorite:

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Free shipping. All specimens come with ID card and Certificate of Authenticity.

Fusion Crusted specimens in 56 mm by 37 by 15 mm display box.


.136 grams SOLD	.188 grams $185-	.230 grams $230-	.432 grams SOLD	.654 grams SOLD

Specimens without fusion crust in 56 mm by 37 by 15 mm display box.


	.142 grams SOLD	.186 grams SOLD	.210 grams SOLD

1.63 grams measuring 14.2 mm by 10.6 mm by 7.5 mm. - SOLD

1.72 grams measuring 15.9 mm by 9.8 mm by 9.7 mm. - SOLD

1.89 grams measuring 14 mm by 12.1 mm by 9.5 mm. - SOLD

2.09 grams measuring 13.8 mm by 12.9 mm by 8.4 mm. SOLD

2.75 grams measuring 16.6 mm by 12.4 mm by 11.2 mm. - SOLD

2.80 grams measuring 19.1 mm by 12.1 mm by 9.9 mm SOLD

8.08 grams measuring 20.4 mm by 17.6 mm by 16.5 mm. Approximately 35% fusion crust - SOLD

20.0 grams measuring 27.6 mm by 23.5 mm by 18.1 mm. Approximately 85% fusion crust - SOLD

21.3 grams measuring 32.5 mm by 28.4 mm by 19.1 mm. Approximately 55% fusion crust - SOLD

Offical Classification of this Spectacular Mars Meteorite Fall

Tissint 29�28.917’N, 7�36.674’W
Tata, Morocco
Fell: 18 July 2011
Classification: Martian meteorite (Shergottite)

History: (H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane, FSAC, and A. Aaronson) At about 2 am local time on July 18, 2011, a bright fireball was observed by several people in the region of the Oued Dr�a valley, east of Tata, Morocco. One eyewitness, Mr Aznid Lhou, reported that it was at first yellow in color, and then turned green illuminating all the area before it appeared to split into two parts. Two sonic booms were heard over the valley. In October 2011, nomads began to find very fresh, fusion-crusted stones in a remote area of the Oued Dr�a intermittent watershed, centered about 50 km ESE of Tata and 48 km SSW of Tissint village, in the vicinity of the Oued El Gsa�b drainage and also near El Ga’�dat plateau known as Hmadat Bo� Rba’ ine. The largest stones were recovered in the El Ga’�dat plateau, whereas the smallest one (a few grams) closer to the El Agl�b Mountains. One 47 g crusted stone was documented as being found at 29�28.917’ N, 7�36.674’ W.

Physical characteristics: Several fusion-crusted stones have been collected ranging from 1 to 987 g, with a total weight of around 7 kg. The stones are almost completely coated by glistening black fusion crust, characterized by thicker layers on exterior ridges as well as much glossier regions (above interior olivine macrocrysts). Some stones have thinner secondary fusion crust on some surfaces. The crust on some stones has been broken in places to reveal the interior, which appears overall pale gray in color with larger, very pale yellow olivine macrocrysts, and sporadic small pockets and some very thin veinlets of black glass. No terrestrial weathering is evident.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS): Olivine macrocrysts (to 1.5 mm) and microphenocrysts (to 0.4 mm) are set in a finer groundmass of patchily zoned pyroxene, plagioclase (maskelynite), Ti-poor chromite, ilmenite, pyrrhotite and minor merrillite. Both the larger olivine macrocrysts and smaller olivine microphenocrysts exhibit thin ferroan rims against the groundmass, and contain tiny chromite inclusions. Narrow ferroan zones also occur within the interior of some olivine macrocrysts.

Geochemistry: Olivine (cores of large macrocrysts Fa_19.4-20.2, Fe/Mn=42-44; rims Fa_43.2-60.4, Fe/Mn=50-55), cores of microphenocrysts Fa_29.1-30.2, Fe/Mn=45-46; rims up to Fa_53.3, Fe/Mn=53), orthopyroxene cores (Fs_24.0-24.4Wo_4.1-4.6, Fe/Mn=30-32), pigeonite (Fs_26.1-51.6Wo_11.9-16.9, Fe/Mn=31-35), subcalcic augite (Fs_21.7-23.3Wo_25.0-24.2, Fe/Mn=26-28), plagioclase (An_61.1-64.3Or_0.5-0.4). Oxygen isotopes (R. Tanaka, OkaU): analyses of acid-washed subsamples by laser fluorination gave, respectively d¹⁷O = 2.849, 2.892; d¹⁸O = 4.844, 4.943; ?¹⁷O = 0.299, 0.290 per mil. Bulk composition (G. Chen and C. Herd, UAb) ICPMS analysis of powdered interior material gave Sm/Nd=0.646, indicating that this specimen has affinities with the depleted compositional group of shergottites.

Classification: Achondrite (Martian, olivine-phyric shergottite).

Specimens: A total of 30.3 g of type material and one polished thin section are on deposit at UWS. Other known institutional specimens include 370 g (ASU), 58 g (UAb), and 108 g (UNM). The remaining material is held by anonymous dealers and collectors.

Links to Articles on Tissint:

Martian meteorite may contain evidence of extraterrestrial life

Black glass holds first Mars soil sample on Earth

Meteorite Delivers Martian Secrets

43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference

Carbonaceous particles in rock of the Tissint martian meteorite

Tissint meteorite helps build Museum Martian library

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