A giant meteorite from the planet Mars made history when it was auctioned for $4.3 million (RM18.2 million), making it the largest and most valuable Martian rock ever found on Earth.
The meteorite, named NWA 16788, weighed 54 pounds (24.5 kg) and was nearly 15 inches long, 70% larger than any other Martian rock ever found.
Laboratory analysis confirmed it was an olivine-gabbroic shergottite, a new type of Martian meteorite formed from the slow cooling of magma on Mars.
According to Sotheby’s, the reddish-brown rock represents 6.5% of all Martian material on Earth, making it an “extremely rare” find.
The identity of the buyer is still being kept confidential and it is not yet known whether the meteorite will be kept privately or put on public display.
The auction was part of Sotheby's Greek Week event, which also featured a Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton valued at $26 million and a Pachycephalosaurus skull valued at $1.4 million.
