A lunar meteorite weighing in at 54.388 pounds (24.67 kilograms) will make history. It would then become the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. An amazing meteorite known as an “olivine-microgabbroic shergottite” is in the news. It’s projected to sell for $2 million to $4 million at Sotheby’s Geek Week 2025 auction in New York on July 16, 2025.
This remarkable meteorite measures nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches (375 millimeters by 279 millimeters by 152 millimeters), making it about 70% larger than the previous record-holder for Martian meteorites. This one specimen represents 7% of all Martian material known to exist on Earth. Its rarity therefore doubles down on both its scientific and financial value.
The stone meteorite, called the El Ali meteorite, was found in the Sahara Desert of Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2020. After its recovery, a 2mm fragment was sent to a specialized laboratory for analysis, which verified that it had Martian origin. Researchers compared its distinct chemical composition with samples from Martian meteorites collected during the Viking space probe missions that landed on Mars in 1976.
Cassandra Hatton, specialist at Sotheby’s, noted the importance of this discovery. She said, “This new Martian meteorite is by far the largest piece of Mars we’ve ever found.” She went on, “That’s actually more than two times the size of what we had previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.”
Alas, the exact date of impact on Earth remains in question. Though much testing remains to be done, it appears that this has been the case in recent years. Hatton explained that this was their first indication. It proved that the object was more than just a large boulder resting on the surface, emphasizing the thorough studies that resulted in its reclassification.
This Martian treasure is currently on loan to Sotheby’s in New York, where it is on public display. It will take center stage during Geek Week, where its origin in the cosmos will continue to intrigue collectors and scientists alike. Fewer than 400 Martian meteorites are known among more than 77,000 meteorites that have been documented on Earth. This auction represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors, and a once-in-a-millennium event in planetary science.