The Largest Piece of Mars on Earth Just Sold for a Record $5.3 Million
The 54-pound rock, known as NWA 16788, sold for a record $5.3 million at Sotheby's New York on Wednesday, becoming the most expensive meteorite ever sold at auction. The lot sparked a 15-minute bidding war between collectors online and on the phone, before hammering down for $4.3 million to a round of applause. (Adding various fees and costs, the official sale price was $5.3 million.) It was originally expected to fetch between $2 million and $4 million.
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The internal composition of NWA 16788 suggests it was blasted from the surface of Mars by a powerful asteroid strike and traveled some 140 million miles to Earth, according to Sotheby's. The rock, which showcases an unmistakable Martian red hue, was discovered in the Sahara Desert in Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023.
Such discoveries are incredibly rare, with the vast majority of space rocks burning up in the atmosphere before reaching Earth. To put it into context, only about 15 meteorites are found in the U.S. each year. Pieces of Mars are rarer still, with only 400 Martian meteorites counted in the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites. NWA 16788 is also 70 percent larger than any other Martian fragment on Earth at present, making it the pick of a very small bunch.
Sotheby's says the meteorite was 'admired by thousands of visitors' during the pre-sale exhibition week, demonstrating humankind's enduring fascination with space. Beyond looking kind of cool, specimens like NWA 16788 provide insight into the elusive geology of Mars and help us to better understand the red planet's composition and history.
The meteorite wasn't the only natural wonder to achieve an out-of-this-world sum during Wednesday's sale. An 'exceptionally preserved' Ceratosaurus, one of only four such dinosaur skeletons known to exist, sold for a colossal $30.5 million. A fierce six-minute bidding battle between six collectors pushed the final sale price well past the original high estimate of $6 million.
'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination and respect for the natural world—from the farthest reaches of space to the ancient depths of the Earth,' Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's, said in a statement. 'What draws collectors is more than just a passion for science; it's a deep-seated curiosity about the forces that have shaped our planet and beyond.'
Despite some criticism from the scientific community, dinosaur skeletons have become highly collectible and prices for specimens have increased significantly over the past 25 years. Stegosaurus 'Apex' remains the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction, achieving $44.6 million at a Sotheby's auction in July 2024. The market for meteorites is also on the rise, with auction houses selling space rocks for hundreds to thousands to millions of dollars. Like many other niche collectibles, meteorites and dinosaur skeletons command such high prices simply because they are so rare.
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2 days ago
Niger investigating $5 million sale of largest Mars rock
DAKAR, Senegal -- It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth — a 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible 'illicit international trafficking,' claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Here's what to know about the meteorite and the legal dispute: Sotheby's said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and traveled 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing 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 favorable 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 galley in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock last year 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 last month during the auction. Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction. Niger's government announced an investigation last month 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, semiprecious stones and meteorites nationwide' in an effort to ensure their traceability. Sotheby's said in a statement sent to The Associated Press 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 AP questions. 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 — rare minerals, like meteorites, can qualify as cultural property. However, Gerstenblith said Niger needs to be able to prove it owned the meteorite and that it was stolen. '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 told the AP. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils in Niger's Sahara, is campaigning to return the country's cultural and natural heritage — including meteorites. 'When you have laws that clearly say rare minerals like meteorites are cultural artifacts, you cannot simply come in and take something that is so unique and valuable to a country,' he told the AP. 'We're just not in the colonial era anymore,' he added. 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. But enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks.
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Why Niger is investigating the $5 million sale of the largest Mars rock found on Earth
DAKAR, Senegal — It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth — a 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible 'illicit international trafficking,' claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Here's what to know about the meteorite and the legal dispute: How it was found Sotheby's said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and traveled 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing 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 favorable 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 galley in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock last year 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 last month 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 last month 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, semiprecious stones and meteorites nationwide' in an effort to ensure their traceability. Sotheby's said in a statement sent to The Associated Press 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 AP questions. What international law says 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 — rare minerals, like meteorites, can qualify as cultural property. However, Gerstenblith said Niger needs to be able 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 told the AP. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils in Niger's Sahara, is campaigning to return the country's cultural and natural heritage — including meteorites. 'When you have laws that clearly say rare minerals like meteorites are cultural artifacts, you cannot simply come in an take something that is so unique and valuable to a country,' he told the AP. 'We're just not in the colonial area anymore,' he added. 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. But enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Why Niger is investigating the $5-million sale of the largest Mars rock found on Earth
DAKAR, Senegal — It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth — a 54-pound meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible 'illicit international trafficking,' claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Here's what to know about the meteorite and the legal dispute: Sotheby's said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and traveled 140 million miles to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing 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 favorable 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 last year 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 last month during the auction. Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction. Niger's government announced an investigation last month 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 sent to the Associated Press 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 AP questions. 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, 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 told the AP. 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. But enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks. Banchereau writes for the Associated Press.
