Why Niger Is Investigating The $5 Million Sale Of The Largest Mars Rock Found On Earth

DAKAR, Senegal — It’s nan largest portion of Mars ever recovered connected Earth — a 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite that fetched more than $5 cardinal astatine a New York auction past month, mounting a world record.

But successful nan West African federation of Niger, wherever nan rusty-red stone was unearthed successful nan Sahara Desert, officials person launched an investigation into what they telephone imaginable “illicit world trafficking,” claiming it whitethorn person been smuggled retired of nan country.

Here’s what to cognize astir nan meteorite and nan ineligible dispute:

How it was found

Sotheby’s said nan rock, named NWA 16788, was blown disconnected nan aboveground of Mars by a monolithic asteroid strike and traveled 140 cardinal miles (225 cardinal kilometers) to Earth.

It was discovered successful nan Sahara successful northwestern Niger by a meteorite huntsman successful November 2023, according to nan auction house. His personality was not disclosed. Nor was nan personality of nan purchaser past month.

Meteorite hunting is increasing successful arid Saharan countries for illustration Niger. Though meteorites tin autumn anyplace connected Earth, nan Sahara has go a premier spot for their find successful portion owed to nan favorable ambiance for their preservation.

Hunters often hunt for space rocks that tin beryllium sold to collectors aliases scientists. The rarest and astir precious are from Mars and nan moon.

According to nan Heritage world journal, nan stone was sold to an world trader earlier it ended up successful a backstage galley successful Italy. A squad of scientists from nan University of Florence examined nan stone past twelvemonth to study much astir its building and wherever it came from earlier falling to Earth, nan publication said.

The meteorite was besides concisely connected show successful Rome earlier it was adjacent seen successful nationalist successful New York past period during nan auction.

Why Niger is investigating

Following nan sale, Niger raised questions astir really nan meteorite came to beryllium sold astatine auction.

Niger’s authorities announced an investigation past period to find nan circumstances of nan meteorite’s find and sale, saying successful a connection it was “akin to illicit world trafficking.”

Last week, President Abdourahamane Tiani suspended nan export of “precious stones, semiprecious stones and meteorites nationwide” successful an effort to guarantee their traceability.

Sotheby’s said successful a connection sent to The Associated Press nan meteorite was exported from Niger and transported successful statement pinch each applicable world procedures.

“As pinch everything we sell, each basal archiving was successful bid astatine each shape of its journey, successful accordance pinch champion believe and nan requirements of nan countries involved.” nan connection read.

Authorities successful Niger did not respond to AP questions.

What world rule says

Patty Gerstenblith, a taste practice lawyer and master connected illicit trade, said that nether nan UNESCO normal connected taste spot — which Niger and nan U.S. person ratified — uncommon minerals, for illustration meteorites, tin suffice arsenic taste property.

However, Gerstenblith said Niger needs to beryllium capable to beryllium it owned nan meteorite and that it was stolen, arsenic forbidden export from nan state does not make nan meteorite forbidden successful nan U.S.

“If nan meteorite was not stolen and if it was decently declared upon import into nan U.S., past it would not look that Niger tin retrieve nan meteorite,” she told nan AP.

Paul Sereno, a paleontologist who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils successful Niger’s Sahara, is campaigning to return nan country’s taste and earthy practice — including meteorites.

“When you person laws that intelligibly opportunity uncommon minerals for illustration meteorites are taste artifacts, you cannot simply travel successful an return thing that is truthful unsocial and valuable to a country,” he told nan AP.

“We’re conscionable not successful nan assemblage area anymore,” he added.

Some countries, like Morocco, 1 of nan starring sources of meteorites connected nan world market, require restitution if nan objects are discovered connected their territory. But enforcement has been challenging owed to nan immense godforsaken areas and informal trading networks.