NWA 7533 “Black Beauty” – Complete Slice (1.153 g)
Exceptionally thin and complete slice of the iconic Martian regolith breccia NWA 7533. This specimen displays a dense and highly contrasted assemblage of lithic clasts within a fine-grained matrix, offering a distinct internal section of one of the most scientifically important Martian meteorites known.
NWA 7533 “Black Beauty” – Complete Martian Regolith Breccia Slice
This complete slice of NWA 7533, weighing 1.153 g and measuring approximately 30 × 14 mm with a thickness of about 1 mm, represents a remarkably informative section through one of the most scientifically significant Martian meteorites ever discovered.
Classified as a Martian regolith breccia, NWA 7533 is composed of lithified surface material formed by the accumulation, impact fragmentation, and cementation of diverse crustal components on Mars. Unlike igneous Martian meteorites that record single volcanic events, this breccia preserves a complex mixture of ancient crustal fragments, impact-generated clasts, and mineral components spanning a wide range of ages.
Radiometric dating of zircon grains extracted from NWA 7533 material has revealed crystallization ages exceeding 4.4 billion years, indicating that parts of the Martian crust formed extremely early in Solar System history. More recent studies have also identified quartz-rich and granitic clasts, mineralogical features previously thought to be restricted to evolved continental crust on Earth. These discoveries have profoundly reshaped our understanding of early Martian crustal evolution and planetary differentiation.
Often referred to by its widely adopted nickname “Black Beauty”, NWA 7533 owes this designation to its dark appearance and exceptional scientific prominence. This informal name has become standard in both the scientific literature and the collector community.
This specific specimen
This particular slice is distinguished by its high density and diversity of lithic clasts, clearly visible across the entire section. Angular to sub-rounded fragments of varying size are embedded within a fine-grained dark matrix, illustrating the complex regolith history of the Martian surface. Compared to other available slices of NWA 7533, this specimen offers a compact yet visually rich cross-section, making it especially suitable for detailed study, advanced private collections, or institutional display.
This meteorite also holds a particular personal significance, as NWA 7533 originates from my own collection. I was directly involved in bringing this exceptional Martian meteorite to the attention of the scientific community, enabling its study and its lasting contribution to our understanding of early Martian crustal evolution.
Preserved as a complete slice with entirely natural boundaries, this specimen represents a unique and irreplaceable record of ancient Martian surface processes, including impact bombardment, regolith development, hydrothermal alteration, and long-term crustal evolution.
