Mystery deepens over largest Martian rock ever found on Earth
The meteorite fetched more than US$5 million (£3.71 million) at an auction in New York in July, setting a world record.
Now officials in the West African nation, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed, are probing what they term possible "illicit international trafficking", suggesting it may have been smuggled out of the country.
Sotheby's, the auction house, said the rock, named NWA 16788, was propelled from Mars by a massive asteroid strike, travelling 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) to Earth.
It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by an unnamed meteorite hunter in November 2023.
Neither the hunter's nor the buyer's identity was disclosed.
Meteorite hunting is a growing pastime in arid Saharan countries like Niger. Though meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has become a prime spot for their discovery in part due to the favourable climate for their preservation.
Hunters often search for space rocks that can be sold to collectors or scientists. The rarest and most precious are from Mars and the moon.
According to the Heritage academic journal, the rock was sold to an international dealer before it ended up in a private gallery in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock in 2024 to learn more about its structure and where it came from before falling to Earth, the publication said.
The meteorite was also briefly on display in Rome before it was next seen in public in New York in July during the auction.
Why Niger is investigating
Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction.
Niger's government announced an investigation in July to determine the circumstances of the meteorite's discovery and sale, saying in a statement it was 'akin to illicit international trafficking'.
Last week, President Abdourahamane Tiani suspended the export of 'precious stones, semi-precious stones and meteorites nationwide' in an effort to ensure their traceability.
Sotheby's said in a statement that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures.
'As with everything we sell, all necessary documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved." the statement read.
Authorities in Niger did not respond to questions.
What international law says
While global agreements are in place to regulate the trade of cultural artifacts, there is ambiguity about whether meteorites are covered.
Patty Gerstenblith, a cultural heritage lawyer and expert on illicit trade, said that under the UNESCO convention on cultural property — which Niger and the U.S. have ratified — meteorites can qualify as cultural property.
However, Ms Gerstenblith said Niger needs to prove it owned the meteorite and that it was stolen, as illegal export from the country does not make the meteorite illegal in the U.S.
'If the meteorite was not stolen and if it was properly declared upon import into the U.S., then it would not seem that Niger can recover the meteorite,' she said.
Some countries, like Morocco, one of the leading sources of meteorites on the international market, require restitution if the objects are discovered on their territory.
However, enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Ball of light was meteorite older than Earth itself
A meteorite that tore through a Georgia home has revealed a stunning secret: it is older than the Earth itself. The space rock blazed across the sky in broad daylight on June 26, sparking hundreds of reports from witnesses across Georgia and South Carolina. The meteorite, now known as the 'McDonough Meteorite,' exploded with a loud boom, shaking the ground and capturing the attention of residents. Researchers at the University of Georgia examined 23 grams of a meteorite fragment that smashed through a Georgia man's home. It went through the roof, HAVC duct, and left a hole in the floor the size of a cherry tomato. Planetary geologist Scott Harris concluded the space rock formed 4.56 billion years ago, roughly 20 million years before Earth. 'It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago,' Harris said. The homeowner said he continues to find specks of space dust scattered around his living room from the impact. 'A mysterious extraterrestrial visitor now has a permanent home and identity, thanks to University of Georgia (UGA) researchers,' the team shared in a press release. 'Multiple fragments, which tore through a residential roof in Henry County, were turned over to a UGA planetary geologist and impact expert to determine.' Before breaking into fragments small enough to analyze, the meteor, known as a bolide, was recorded entering Earth's atmosphere at an incredible cosmic velocity. This massive space rock hurtled toward McDonough at speeds exceeding the speed of sound. 'When they encounter Earth, our atmosphere is very good at slowing them down,' Harris said. 'But you're talking about something that is double the size of a 50-caliber shell, going at least 2,236 miles per second. That's like running 10 football fields in one second.' Using optical and electron microscopy to examine the fragments, Harris identified the meteorite as a Low Metal (L) ordinary Chondrite. This classification indicates the meteorite likely formed 4.56 billion years ago in an oxygen-rich environment. This is the 27th meteorite recovered in Georgia in history, and the sixth witnessed fall. Harris said the fragment broke the sound barrier when it entered the Earth's atmosphere. 'This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years,' Harris said. 'Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites.' Harris explained that although a fragment this small posed no danger, scientists study meteorite impacts to better understand their dynamics. The ultimate goal is to assess the risks and prepare for potential threats that could cause catastrophic damage,' he added.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Mystery deepens over largest Martian rock ever found on Earth
A 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite – the largest Martian rock ever found on Earth –is now the subject of an investigation in Niger. The meteorite fetched more than US$5 million (£3.71 million) at an auction in New York in July, setting a world record. Now officials in the West African nation, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed, are probing what they term possible "illicit international trafficking", suggesting it may have been smuggled out of the country. Sotheby's, the auction house, said the rock, named NWA 16788, was propelled from Mars by a massive asteroid strike, travelling 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by an unnamed meteorite hunter in November 2023. Neither the hunter's nor the buyer's identity was disclosed. Meteorite hunting is a growing pastime in arid Saharan countries like Niger. Though meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has become a prime spot for their discovery in part due to the favourable climate for their preservation. Hunters often search for space rocks that can be sold to collectors or scientists. The rarest and most precious are from Mars and the moon. According to the Heritage academic journal, the rock was sold to an international dealer before it ended up in a private gallery in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock in 2024 to learn more about its structure and where it came from before falling to Earth, the publication said. The meteorite was also briefly on display in Rome before it was next seen in public in New York in July during the auction. Why Niger is investigating Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction. Niger's government announced an investigation in July to determine the circumstances of the meteorite's discovery and sale, saying in a statement it was 'akin to illicit international trafficking'. Last week, President Abdourahamane Tiani suspended the export of 'precious stones, semi-precious stones and meteorites nationwide' in an effort to ensure their traceability. Sotheby's said in a statement that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures. 'As with everything we sell, all necessary documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved." the statement read. Authorities in Niger did not respond to questions. What international law says While global agreements are in place to regulate the trade of cultural artifacts, there is ambiguity about whether meteorites are covered. Patty Gerstenblith, a cultural heritage lawyer and expert on illicit trade, said that under the UNESCO convention on cultural property — which Niger and the U.S. have ratified — meteorites can qualify as cultural property. However, Ms Gerstenblith said Niger needs to prove it owned the meteorite and that it was stolen, as illegal export from the country does not make the meteorite illegal in the U.S. 'If the meteorite was not stolen and if it was properly declared upon import into the U.S., then it would not seem that Niger can recover the meteorite,' she said. Some countries, like Morocco, one of the leading sources of meteorites on the international market, require restitution if the objects are discovered on their territory. However, enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Meteorite tears through US home
Published: | Updated: A meteorite that tore through a Georgia home has revealed a stunning secret: it is older than the Earth itself. The space rock blazed across the sky in broad daylight on June 26, sparking hundreds of reports from witnesses across Georgia and South Carolina. The meteorite, now known as the 'McDonough Meteorite,' exploded with a loud boom, shaking the ground and capturing the attention of residents. Researchers at the University of Georgia examined 23 grams of a meteorite fragment that smashed through a Georgia man's home. It went through the roof, HVAC duct, and left a hole in the floor the size of a cherry tomato. Planetary geologist Scott Harris concluded the space rock formed 4.56 billion years ago, roughly 20 million years before Earth. 'It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago,' Harris said. The homeowner said he continues to find specks of space dust scattered around his living room from the impact. Before breaking into fragments small enough to analyze, the meteor, known as a bolide, was recorded entering Earth's atmosphere at an incredible cosmic velocity. This massive space rock hurtled toward McDonough at speeds exceeding the speed of sound. 'When they encounter Earth, our atmosphere is very good at slowing them down,' Harris said. 'But you're talking about something that is double the size of a 50-caliber shell, going at least 2,236 miles per second. That's like running 10 football fields in one second.' Using optical and electron microscopy to examine the fragments, Harris identified the meteorite as a Low Metal (L) ordinary Chondrite. This classification indicates the meteorite likely formed 4.56 billion years ago in an oxygen-rich environment. This is the 27th meteorite recovered in Georgia in history, and the sixth witnessed fall. Harris said the fragment broke the sound barrier when it entered the Earth's atmosphere. 'This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years,' Harris said. 'Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites.' Harris explained that although a fragment this small posed no danger, scientists study meteorite impacts to better understand their dynamics. 'The ultimate goal is to assess the risks and prepare for potential threats that could cause catastrophic damage,' he added. Panic broke out across parts of the US when the fireball was spotted falling from the sky. Police scanner audio in Spartanburg, South Carolina captured a call from a woman who reported a 'giant ball of fire' falling from the sky, a sight echoed by witnesses from Tennessee to Georgia. 'I'm not crazy! I just saw a huge ball of fire fall from the sky in East Tennessee around the Cherokee National Forest!' a firefighter wrote on X. 'Anyone else see it? Right around 12:20pm ET. Very cool but a little unnerving given the current times!' While some speculated it could have been a falling aircraft, the firefighter described it as 'like a mini sun falling with a tail of fire.' In Georgia, one resident said they not only saw the object, but heard it pass overhead and felt the ground shake when it hit. The National Weather Service confirmed the many reports across the Southeast US saying: 'It is not certain, but the satellite-based lightning detection shows a streak within cloud-free sky over the NC/VA border, over Gasbury, VA. This streak was detected between 12:51 to 12:56 pm.' Hundreds of reports of a possible fireball were submitted to the American Meteor Society website from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, which are still pending. 'This was the middle of the day, and it just came out of nowhere,' according to one fireball report on the American Meteor Society from Perry, Georgia. A report submitted by Ashley R from Suwanee, Georgia read: 'I thought it was a missile.' Brian S from Alpharetta, Georgia said: 'It was full daylight, no clouds, and still it was very bright. I heard a muffled and slight boom sound, maybe 30 seconds later, but that could be unrelated.' He added that he saw a 'smoke trail that quickly fell apart.' Marc Tozer of Georgia shared on Facebook: 'Stone Mountain here and it made a booming sound, house shook with a long rumble. Dogs went crazy.' Another Georgia local posted: 'House totally rumbled, sounded like a log rolling off the roof, thought nukes were coming...' WRDW, an Atlanta news source, reported that black smoke was seen south of I-20, although it may be from a controlled burn, first responders said.
