A rare meteorite from Mars has become the subject of an international dispute after being sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $4.3m to an unnamed buyer.
The rock, the largest Martian specimen ever found on Earth, was discovered in Niger’s Sahara Desert in 2023.
Palaeontologist Paul Sereno, who has worked extensively in Niger, described the sale as “brazen” and says the meteorite should be returned to the West African nation. Niger’s government has launched an investigation, raising doubts about the legality of its export and warning of possible illicit trafficking.
Named NWA 16788, the 24.7kg rock was reportedly found near the Chirfa Oasis by an unidentified meteorite hunter and sold to an international dealer before ending up in an Italian gallery. It was later displayed in Italy before its sale in the US. Sotheby’s insists all documentation was in order and that the export followed international procedures.
Meteorites from Mars are rare – fewer than 400 have been identified from more than 50,000 recorded meteorite finds – and can command high prices in a market likened to fine art, with value driven by rarity and aesthetics.
While Niger’s 1997 heritage law protects mineralogical specimens, meteorites are not specifically mentioned, a gap that complicates claims for restitution. Sereno argues that international conventions prohibit removing items of national heritage, whether cultural, natural or extraterrestrial.
Morocco, another major source of meteorites, has introduced regulations to stem their export, though enforcement remains patchy. Geologist Hasnaa Chennaoui, who has fought to retain meteorites in Morocco, says Niger’s case reflects a wider problem across the region.
Whether Niger will be able to recover NWA 16788 remains unclear. Sereno hopes the dispute will strengthen protections and ensure such finds are displayed in their countries of origin.
