Why Niger is investigating the $5 million sale of the largest Mars rock found on Earth
Dakar, Senegal (AP) – This The largest Mars piece on earth -A 54 -pound meteorite (25 kilograms), which brings more than 5 million dollars to a New York auction and broke a world record to a New York auction.
However, in the West African country, where the rusty red rock was revealed in the Sahara Desert, the authorities claimed that they may have been kidnapped outside the country, and launched an investigation into possible “illegal international trade”.
What you need to know about meteorite and legal dispute:
How found
Sotheby’s, NWA 16788, a large asteroid strike was blown from the surface of Mars and 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) went to Earth, he said.
According to the auction house, it was discovered by a meteorite hunter in November 2023 at the Sahara in Northwest Niger. His identity was not disclosed. It wasn’t the buyer’s identity last month.
Meteorite hunting is growing in Kurak Saran countries like Niger. Although meteorites could fall anywhere on earth, the Sahara has become the most important point for their discovery due to the appropriate climate for their partial protection.
Hunters usually seek space rocks that can be sold to collector or scientists. From the most rare and most valuable Mars and Moon.
According to The Heritage Academic Journal, Rock was sold to an international seller before going to a special gallery in Italy. The publication said that a team of scientists from the University of Florence examined Rock to learn more about the structure of last year and where it came from before falling to earth.
Meteorite was briefly exhibited in Rome before it was seen in New York last month during the auction.
Why is Niger investigating
After the sale, Niger asked questions about how to sell meteorite auction.
The Niger government announced an investigation to determine the conditions of the discovery and sales of meteorite last month and said in a statement, “It is similar to international trade.”
Last week, President Abdourarahane Tiani suspended “precious stones, semi -precious stones and meteorites” to provide traceability.
In a statement sent to Associated Press, Sotheby’s said it was exported from Niger and moved in accordance with all related international procedures.
“As in everything we sell, in accordance with the best practices and the needs of the concerned countries, all necessary documents were at every stage of his journey.” The expression was read.
Niger officials did not answer the AP questions.
What does international law say
While global agreements are made to regulate the trade of cultural works, there is uncertainty as to whether meteorites are covered.
Patty Gertenblit, a cultural heritage lawyer and illegal trade expert, said that meteorites could be considered as cultural property under the UNESCO Cultural Property Agreement approved by Niger and the United States.
However, Gertenblit said that Niger had to prove that he had meteorite, and that illegal exports from the country were stolen because the meteorite did not illegally in the USA.
“If meteorite is not stolen and announced properly after being imported to the United States, Niger can not be seen to save meteorite,” he said.
Some countries, such as Morocco, one of the sources of leading meteors in the international market, require repayment if objects are discovered on their territory. However, the application was challenging due to large desert areas and informal trade networks.
