Scientists Date Sahara-Found Martian Meteorite to Over 4 Billion Years
Researchers have determined that the Martian meteorite Teghaza 001, recovered in Mali's Sahara Desert, is about 4.1 billion years old, offering new insight into early Mars geology and water activity.
Scientists have dated the Martian meteorite Teghaza 001, found in the Sahara Desert of northern Mali, to roughly 4.1 billion years ago, making it one of the oldest known pieces of Mars on Earth. The age estimate, published in Science, was obtained by analyzing zircon crystals and applying a new single-grain dating technique to a fragment smaller than a fingernail. The findings suggest the rock was altered by Martian water around that time, indicating it originally formed even earlier.
The meteorite, initially classified as a shergottite, displays an unusual mineral composition that differs from other ancient Martian samples such as ALH 84001 and Black Beauty (NWA 7034). Its volcanic mineral makeup provides clues about how Mars’ crust formed from cooling magma before interacting with subsurface water.
"It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique," said Yang Liu, a geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and lead author of the study.
"This is really our first piece of Martian crust from a part of Mars we’ve never had a sample of before," added Lee Saper, a scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center and co-author.
The research team hopes the sample will help answer further questions about early Martian environments, including the planet’s water cycle and its potential to have supported life.