The government of Niger has launched a formal investigation into the sale of a rare Martian meteorite found in the Agadez region in the country’s north, after it was auctioned in the United States for nearly $5 million.
In an official statement, authorities raised suspicions of illegal international trade. The meteorite, known as NWA 16788, weighs 24.5 kilograms and is one of the largest Martian meteorites ever found on Earth.
The Council of Ministers has tasked the Ministries of Justice, Mines, and Higher Education with conducting a thorough inquiry into how the meteorite left the country. Scientific studies in Shanghai confirmed its Martian origin and classified it among the rare “Shergottite” group.
The case underscores the legislative gaps in many developing countries regarding the protection of their geological and scientific heritage from foreign exploitation.
