Niger Probes $5M Sale of Largest Earth Mars Rock
Niger is investigating the sale of a $5 million Mars meteorite, the largest ever found on Earth, amid concerns it was smuggled out of the country illegally. The meteorite, discovered in Niger's Sahara Desert, was sold at a New York auction, prompting Niger to suspend exports of meteorites and stones to trace its origins and prevent illicit trade. The case highlights issues of cultural property rights and the challenges of regulating mineral and meteorite trade in desert regions.
