NASA-funded Study Details One of Oldest Mars Meteorites Ever Found

A NASA-funded study has revealed that a Martian meteorite, named Teghaza 001, is one of the oldest ever found on Earth. The rose-colored rock, discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2022, was age-dated to be over 4.1 billion years old, making it a unique piece of Mars' ancient crust. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory characterized the meteorite's mineralogy and chemistry, providing a rare snapshot of Mars' formation. The study's lead author, Yang Liu, described Teghaza 001 as a 'Rosetta Stone for Mars,' due to its distinctive mineralogy and age. The meteorite's texture and age set it apart from other Martian meteorites, offering valuable insights into the planet's geological history. Further analysis revealed that Teghaza 001 has a mix of igneous minerals that tell a story about how the planet's crust formed from cooling magma before it was altered by subsurface water. The study's findings could help answer questions about how water and rocks interacted on ancient Mars.