Ancient Martian meteorite discovered in Mali formed over 4.1 billion years ago: Study

Baku, October 30, AZERTAC A meteorite discovered in Mali in 2022 dates back more than 4. 1 billion years, offering scientists rare insights into Mars' ancient crust and water history, according to a recent study, Anadolu Agency. NASA-funded researchers have determined that Teghaza 001, an approximately 800-gram (1. 8-pound) meteorite found in the Sahara Desert, originated on Mars and is among the oldest Martian meteorites ever discovered on Earth. Named after the salt plain in Mali where it was discovered, it is one of roughly 435 known Martian meteorites. The findings were published Thursday in the journal Science, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The study provides an initial characterization of the meteorite, which contains a distinctive combination of igneous, or volcanic, minerals.

These minerals offer clues about how Mars' crust formed as magma cooled and was later altered by subsurface water. A separate study published in Science Advances in June examined the meteorite's water content and its implications for the planet's early surface. "It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique," said Yang Liu, the study's lead author and a researcher at JPL in Southern California. "One of the paper's reviewers called it a Rosetta Stone for Mars. "Teghaza 001 is among the three most ancient Martian meteorites found on Earth. The others include ALH84001, which is composed almost entirely of one mineral and is of a similar age, and "Black Beauty," which formed about 2. 1 billion years ago. The meteorite's mineral composition resembles material observed by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in the planet's cratered southern highlands. Although its exact origin remains unknown, researchers identified several potential…