The Largest 'This' on Earth, Sold for 7.4 Billion Won at US Auction.. What Could It Be?

[Financial News]  The largest Mars meteorite on Earth was sold at an auction for about 7.4 billion won.

On the 16th (local time), according to US CNN and others, Sotheby's auctioned the Mars meteorite 'NWA 16788' in New York, which was sold for a final price of 5.3 million dollars (about 7.4 billion won) including fees.

Initially, Sotheby's expected this meteorite to sell for up to 4 million dollars (about 5.6 billion won), but it was sold for much higher.

Discovered by a meteorite hunter in the Agadez region of Niger, Africa on November 16, 2023, this meteorite measures 375mm in length, 279mm in width, and 152mm in thickness, making it the largest Mars rock found on Earth to date. It also accounts for about 6.5% of the Martian-origin material currently existing on Earth, making it large and rare.

Experts estimate that this meteorite was ejected from Mars' surface due to a powerful asteroid impact, traveling 140 million miles (225 million km) before crashing into the Sahara Desert.

Sotheby's stated, "NWA 16788 is the largest Mars meteorite found on Earth and the most valuable of its kind to appear at auction," adding, "This weathered meteorite, which has traveled across millions of years and vast expanses of space-time, is of immense size and distinct red color, making it a once-in-a-generation find."

They continued, "It is difficult to find Mars meteorites on Earth because most break into small fragments while passing through Earth's atmosphere, and so far, only about 400 fragments have been discovered," adding, "It provides a tangible link to Mars, which has long captured human imagination."

They further explained, "Analysis of the meteorite's internal composition suggests it was ejected from Mars' surface due to a powerful asteroid impact and traveled through space," adding, "A glassy shell formed during its passage through Earth's atmosphere, observable on the surface."

newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter