A monstrous, 37-pound Lunar Meteorite (NWA 15368 Lunar Meteorite) discovered in Mali by camel shepherds in 2021 (with a minimum opening bid of $600,000), and a rare, 20-foot long mummified dinosaur tail and vertebrae fossil (minimum bid $50,000) headline the March 31 Heritage Auctions’ Nature & Science Signature ® Auction. “There is nothing that captures people’s fascination quite like the moon does,” says Craig Kissick, Vice President of Nature & Science at Heritage Auctions.

Lunar Meteorite: Once in a great while, an offering will become manifest that is so singular and superlative in its nature that it really has no peer. This unbelievable MAIN MASS lunar meteorite is just such an item. A truly massive specimen weighing 17 kilograms (37.4 pounds), this example of recently classified lunar fragmental breccia representing NWA 15368 is even beyond the term museum-quality. Found in 2021 by camel shepherds in the Northern Saharan Zone of Mali, this fall consisted of a single stone with dark exterior coloration and one side partially covered in caliche. Cutting a test sample from the meteorite revealed fragmental breccia composition, with multiple lithic clasts in a glassy, dark gray ground mass. Evidencing high shock stage and moderate weathering, the origin of the amazing rock is the Highlands area of the Moon. Impact melt textures are present on the enormous extraterrestrial rock transported to Earth from its only natural satellite. To commemorate the Artemis program, this meteorite was dubbed “Artemis 17” prior to the official classification as NWA 15368. Standing 11 inches (28 cm) tall, when set on the flat ‘window’ serving as a base, this stone is relatively colossal and as significant in its dimensionality as it is in height. One of the largest examples of a lunar meteorite likely to be seen – and certainly to be offered for auction – this world-class specimen of the NWA 15368 variety is simply unparalleled. A vial with 3 grams of NWA 15368 dust accompanies this Lot. The highly textural surfaces of this giant meteorite exhibit mottled coloration, shallow planetary crater indentations, and a contrast of light and dark between the primary and secondary display face. In fact, two relatively deep holes give the effect of a pair of “eyes” on the face of the huge space rock. The big, polished section reveals a fine-grained interior with lots of clasts and a two-tone gray and brown color. An otherwise smooth surface features a small channel groove such that its bottom is not perfectly flat. The complexity, texture, and color of the exterior result in a sublime offering that needs to be seen in person in order to fully appreciate. This simply represents one massive and superb piece of the Moon. This Lot comes with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming this rock is the MAIN MASS of NWA 15368.
Measurements: 11.02 x 9.84 x 7.09 inches (28.00 x 25.00 x 18.00 cm), weighs 16.97 kilograms (37.42 pounds)

Dinosaur Fossil: There is no shortage of superlatives to describe this fossil specimen, which is truly remarkable for any number of reasons. While this massive vertebral and tail section from a Hadrosaur is incredibly long, measuring over 20 feet (6 meters), it is the presence of huge sections of extremely rare fossilized skin and tendons that make this such an incomparable specimen. Dating back to the Late Cretaceous, and having come out of the renowned Hell Creek Formation in Harding County, South Dakota, informally known as the “T-rex Capital of the World,” this fully articulated, partial specimen is superb. This level and extent of “mummified” preservation is virtually unheard of in such vertebrate fossils. Although a likely identification of this Dinosaur is Edmontosaurus, it is conjectured that this represents not only a new species but even, potentially, a new genus of Hadrosaur. In addition to these amazing facts about this singular fossil, the remains indicate possible scars or bite marks that could indicate the tail section was used in a defensive manner and could have been bitten by a T-rex in battle. Recovery, after the discovery in 1999 of the fossil on private lands in the Jump-Off Ranch, this specimen was expertly prepared and curated, with the representation most recently having been on display at the Brazos County Museum of Natural History in Bryan, Texas. This is likely one of the largest amounts of fossilized Dinosaur skin ever recovered and, of course, may indeed be a yet unknown variety. This is without question a museum quality offering on all counts with a size, aesthetics, and rarity worthy of any Natural History institution. The specimen consists of segments of fused light brown bone which is presented on a custom base of black metal armatures that hold various parts of the Dinosaur fossil. Breakdown and installation are all easy, and the piece, when displayed in its mounting, is captivating and constantly draws major attention.
Overall Measurements: 250.50 x 55.25 x 19.00 inches (636.27 x 140.33 x 48.26 cm)