Why is Erg Chech 002 exceptionally rare among meteorites?

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Erg Chech 002 is exceptionally rare due to its unique origin and the scarcity of meteorites with similar compositional characteristics.

Erg Chech 002 stands out as one of the most unique meteorites documented, with its rarity stemming from its origin as a piece of a protoplanet's crust from the early solar system. Out of approximately 65,000 meteorites found on Earth, only a small fraction, around 4,000, contain "differentiated matter," indicating they originated from larger celestial bodies that underwent geological activity. The vast majority of these differentiated meteorites, 95 percent, are traced back to just two specific asteroids, leaving Erg Chech 002 as an anomaly within the remaining five percent.
Volcanic Origin from a Protoplanet's Crust

The meteorite's distinctiveness lies in its volcanic genesis, signifying it was part of the surface crust of a protoplanet rather than its core. This suggests that lava accumulated on the protoplanet's surface, solidified, and was subsequently ejected into space. This process is uncommon for meteorites, which often represent core material from smaller bodies or fragments from larger, more geologically active planets.
Limited Planetary Building Blocks

The extreme rarity of Erg Chech 002, being the only known meteorite of its kind among tens of thousands, suggests that the protoplanet it originated from either contributed significantly to the formation of larger planetary bodies or was obliterated during the solar system's chaotic early stages. The lack of similar spectral features in other known asteroids indicates that most protoplanets of this type have either been incorporated into larger planets or were destroyed.
Formation in the Solar System's Infancy

Erg Chech 002 is believed to have formed approximately 4.65 billion years ago, within the first million years of the solar system's existence. Its unique composition is thought to be the result of lava accumulating on the surface of a protoplanet, which was heated by its aluminium core. The solidified crust, containing the meteorite, was then violently thrown into space by an unknown force, leading to its rapid cooling and preservation.

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Why is Erg Chech 002 exceptionally rare among meteorites?

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