Erg Chech 003 – 4.33 g – extremely rare CR2 carbonaceous chondrite with strongly chondrule-rich Exemplar - 4.33 g - (1)

Offered here is a single specimen of Erg Chech 003 weighing 4.33 g.


This is the kind of meteorite that is not merely rare, but genuinely important in a serious collection. Erg Chech 003 is an officially classified CR2 carbonaceous chondrite, found in 2021 in Algeria, and the very limited known total mass of only 1100 g already shows how restricted this material truly is.


Precisely because it is a rare CR2, Erg Chech 003 is especially desirable. CR2 meteorites belong to the rare and scientifically highly important primitive chondrites. Accordingly, only very little material ever reaches the collector market. A specimen like this is therefore not simply another desert meteorite, but a truly scarce collector’s object with real substance and significance.

Visually, this piece also has strong presence. The surface appears dark, vivid, and exceptionally textured, with clearly protruding rounded components and a highly characteristic appearance for this type. It is exactly this sculptural, chondrule-rich surface that makes the specimen so attractive: it does not look generic, but immediately shows that this is primitive and special material.



Origin and classification

Erg Chech 003, abbreviated EC 003, is an official meteorite listed in the Meteoritical Bulletin. It was found in 2021 in the Adrar region of Algeria and classified as CR2. The known total mass is only 1100 g.

This combination of official classification, limited total mass, and rare group is exactly what makes Erg Chech 003 so interesting. It is not common standard material, but a meteorite that immediately stands out in any serious collection of rare carbonaceous chondrites.



Scientific background

Erg Chech 003 is a CR2 carbonaceous chondrite. Carbonaceous chondrites are among the most primitive meteorites of all, because they preserve material that has remained relatively little altered since the earliest phases of the Solar System. CR2 meteorites are especially valued within this group because they retain a strongly primitive character and preserve important information about the very earliest solid building blocks of the Solar System.


The “CR” refers to the Renazzo group, a subgroup of carbonaceous chondrites known for its primitive nature. The “2” indicates that the material has experienced some degree of alteration, while still preserving very early and scientifically important structures. This is exactly why CR2 meteorites are considered so fascinating: they combine rarity with genuine scientific depth.

Put simply, Erg Chech 003 is not an ordinary stony meteorite, but a very early and highly primitive piece of matter from the beginning of the Solar System.



Why this specimen is especially attractive

This specimen is compelling not only because of its rarity, but also because of its appearance. The photographs show very clearly how sculptural, chondrule-rich, and characterful the surface is. It is precisely this strongly textured, almost relief-like structure that gives a piece visual quality and makes it immediately recognizable in a collection.

At 4.33 g, the specimen also has a very appealing size: compact, yet large enough to display its type and surface features convincingly. With rare meteorites like Erg Chech 003, this matters greatly — not just any piece is desirable, but one that also has real visual presence. That is exactly the case here.



Such an Erg Chech 003 is ideally suited as:

a rare collector’s specimen for advanced meteorite enthusiasts

a high-quality addition to a collection of primitive or carbonaceous chondrites

a representative example of a rare CR2 meteorite

a specimen with genuine scientific and collector significance

Key features of this specimen

4.33 g weight

Erg Chech 003 / EC 003

CR2 carbonaceous chondrite

find country: Algeria, year 2021

known total mass only 1100 g

extremely rare material as a rare CR2

very distinctive, dark, and chondrule-rich surface

visually and scientifically highly attractive





This is a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally high-quality specimen in this level of preservation and appeal. It is precisely in carefully selected examples that one sees how rarely aesthetic form, clean surface, and convincing overall quality come together in a single meteorite.






As a member of the International Meteorite Collectors Association (IMCA #7379) and the Global Meteorite Association (GMA #G0117), I guarantee the authenticity of every meteorite I offer. Each specimen is delivered with a certificate, ensuring an authentic, secure, and certified purchase.

Thank you and good luck!

IMCA #7379
GMA #G0117