{"title":"NWA 18168 - Martian Shergottite","description":"\u003cp\u003eNWA 18168 is a rare Martian Shergottite purchased in 2023, after the original stone was acquired from nomads in Western Sahara in early 2022. It is officially classified as a Martian meteorite, specifically an evolved basaltic Shergottite. With a recorded mass of only 98 g from a single stone, NWA 18168 is a very limited Martian meteorite representing igneous material formed on Mars before being ejected from the planet by a powerful impact event.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNWA 18168 specimens are described as having a desert-weathered smooth upper surface and a caliche-coated underside, with numerous small light brown crystals visible. Saw-cut surfaces reveal dark grey and honey-brown grains, while freshly broken surfaces show shiny maskelynite. Its mineralogy is dominated by clinopyroxene and maskelynite, with minor phases including Cl-rich apatite, merrillite, titanomagnetite, ilmenite, silica, and troilite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudying NWA 18168 provides valuable insight into Martian basaltic volcanism, igneous crystallisation, and the shock processes that transform plagioclase into maskelynite during launch from Mars. Its evolved basaltic Shergottite classification, very low known mass, Western Sahara provenance, and strong visual character make it especially desirable for collectors of Martian meteorites. Each specimen represents genuine Mars rock, naturally delivered to Earth after an extraordinary journey through space.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/outerspacer.com\/collections\/nwa-18168-martian-shergottite.oembed","provider":"OuterSpacer Meteorites","version":"1.0","type":"link"}