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An Apollo Lunar Sample Return Container (ALSRC), or "rocks box". This is ALSRC-12 (serial number 1012), which flew on Apollo 15 (page 7 of that report [p. 13 in the PDF] contains a post-flight photo of the ALSRC).

Lunar surface samples, most of them in sample bags, were placed in a sample return container such as this. The ALSRC sealed and maintained a vaccuum to prevent contamination of the samples.

To prevent contamination of the command module, the ALSRCs were cleaned in the lunar module and placed in a Lunar Sample Container Decontamination Bag prior transfer to the command module.

I photographed another ALSRC at the National Air & Space Museum, and also at the Destination Moon travelling exhibit.