The Lúa Chea - lunar meteorite earrings

The Lúa Chea Center Stone: Hand shaped Lunar Meteorite. This is a real piece of the Moon that was ejected by a meteorite impact on the surface of our Moon. The ejecta from that impact eventually landed on Earth as a meteorite. This lunar meteorite is classified as a Feldspathic Lunar Breccia, and was recovered from the dry deserts of Northwest Africa.

Setting: 925 Silver

Description:  Lúa Chea is a unique handcrafted Lunar Meteorite set of earrings with center stones fashioned from a piece of the Moon. Made from the beautiful lunar meteorite NWA 14041 and set in Sterling Silver. 

Dimensions of the center stone: Approximately 9mm x 9mm x 3mm 

Dimensions of the earring: Approximately 24mm x 9mm x 4mm 

Official name: NWA 14041

Type: Lunar Feldspathic Breccia

Year Found: 2021

Country: Mali

Parent body: The Moon - this material was ejected from our only natural satellite when the Moon was hit by another meteorite. It should be noted that we do not know exactly which crater this lunar meteorite was ejected from. 

These beautiful moon earrings have been hand crafted and assembled in the US by AZ based artisan Josh Eisler. Each earring has a unique center stone and it is a completely unique part of the Moon. No two earrings are exactly alike. The center stone for these earrings was ejected from the Moon and recovered in Mali by camel shepherds in 2021. The center stone has been free-hand shaped to find the best qualities in each area of the stone, and making every piece totally unique. The pendant is set in .925 Sterling Silver.

The story: Our Moon takes a lot of hits. This is evidenced by the millions of craters that cover the moon's surface. Thankfully the bombardments have slowed down considerably in the last few hundred thousand years, but they still do occur from time to time. Lunar meteorites are material ejected from our Moon's surface when it gets hit by a meteorite. If the impact has enough energy, some of the ejecta gets thrown so far it escapes the Moon's gravity becoming meteoroids hurtling through space. Some of those lunar meteoroids have the potential to eventually fall into Earth's gravity well and go screaming through the atmosphere to hit the surface. Once they hit the Earth's surface, they earn the designation of being a meteorite. Much later, perhaps thousands of years later, an even smaller fraction of the meteorites that didn't fall into the oceans or onto unrecoverable terrain, are recovered by nomads and others who happen to find them. Nothing short of miraculous odds. To describe them as rare, is perhaps an understatement.

Northwest Africa 14041
Basic information	Name: Northwest Africa 14041      This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name. Abbreviation: NWA 14041 Observed fall: No Year found: 2021 Country: Mali Mass: 11.7 kg
Classification   history:	Recommended:   Lunar (feldsp. breccia)    [explanation] This is 1 of 240 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (feldsp. breccia).   [show all] Search for other: Lunar meteorites
Comments:	Approved 6 Jul 2021
Writeup	Writeup from MB 110: Northwest Africa 14041 (NWA 14041) Mali Purchased: 2021 Feb Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia) History: Found in Mali by camel shepherds in January 2021 and subsequently purchased in Algeria by Ahmed Salek. Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, pigeonite, exsolved pigeonite and minor Ti-chromite set in a fine grained matrix containing minor secondary calcite and a K-Ca-bearing zeolite phase. Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa29.0-51.5, FeO/MnO = 99-102, N = 4), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs23.3Wo3.7, FeO/MnO = 60), pigeonite (Fs32.6-68.1Wo8.7-19.5, FeO/MnO = 52-75, N = 4), pigeonite host (Fs42.0Wo10.4, FeO/MnO = 66), augite exsolution lamella (Fs22.1Wo40.6, FeO/MnO = 71), anorthite (An90.8-96.0Or0.1, N = 3). Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia). Specimens: 23.6 g in the form of a polished endcut at UWB; remainder with Mr. A. Salek.
Data from:   MB110   Table 0   Line 0:	Place of purchase: Algeria Date: P 2021 Feb Mass (g): 11700 Pieces: 5 Class: Lunar (feldsp. breccia) Shock stage: low Weathering grade: low Fayalite (mol%): 29.0-51.5 Ferrosilite (mol%): 23.3; 32.6-68.1 Wollastonite (mol%): 3.7; 8.7-19.5 Classifier: A. Irving, UWS, and P. Carpenter, WUSL Type spec mass (g): 23.6 Type spec location: UWB Main mass: A. Salek Comments: Work name Ahmed 01; submitted by A. Irving