A rose-colored meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in 2022 has been identified as one of the oldest Martian rocks ever discovered on Earth, formed more than 4.1 billion years ago and showing signs of interaction with ancient water, NASA-funded scientists reported Thursday in the journal Science.
The nearly 2-pound (800-gram) rock, named Teghaza 001 after the salt plain in Mali where it was discovered, is one of roughly 435 known Martian meteorites. In a paper published in Science, researchers provided an initial characterization, with Yang Liu of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as lead author, describing it as a unique sample that matches mineralogy observed by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in the planet's cratered southern highlands.
"It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique," Liu said. "One of the paper's reviewers called it a Rosetta Stone for Mars."
What sets Teghaza 001 apart from other Martian meteorites is its mix of igneous minerals, which record how the planet's crust formed from cooling magma and was later altered by subsurface water. It is one of the three most ancient Martian meteorites found on Earth. The others, ALH84001, which is similar in age but composed almost entirely of one mineral, and the younger meteorite nicknamed "Black Beauty," provide more limited views of Mars' geological history.
The discovery of zircon crystals in Teghaza 001 allowed precise age-dating. Coauthor Francois Tissot of Caltech helped researchers use a novel in-situ rubidium-strontium technique that analyzed single mineral grains on a sample smaller than a fingernail, preserving the rare specimen for future study.
"Right now, we are one of very few labs in the world able to perform this kind of age-dating, and the first to date such an ancient Martian meteorite," Tissot said.
The age-dating showed the rock was altered by water around 4.1 billion years ago, suggesting it formed even earlier. "It records interactions of water and rock and maybe even an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as it was losing water," said coauthor Lee Saper, now at NASA's Ames Research Center.
The researchers identified 13 locations on Mars that match the meteorite's chemistry and mineralogy, though the precise origin remains unknown.
A separate paper published in Science Advances in June detailed the meteorite's water content, offering a look at how water shaped the early Martian surface.
This year's papers are just the beginning. "We've only scratched the surface," Liu said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Provides a rare direct sample of ancient Martian crust, helping scientists understand the early formation of the Red Planet.
- Evidence of water-rock interaction 4.1 billion years ago offers clues to Mars' early water cycle and potential habitability.
- The new age-dating technique preserves rare samples for future analysis and could be applied to other extraterrestrial rocks.
Background
Martian meteorites are fragments of Mars that were ejected into space by asteroid impacts and later fell to Earth. They are the only known samples of the Red Planet aside from those collected by robotic missions. Teghaza 001 was discovered in the Sahara in 2022 and quickly identified as Martian by its oxygen isotopes. It is one of approximately 435 known Martian meteorites.
Key Perspectives
Yang Liu (NASA JPL, lead author): said the meteorite is unique and one reviewer called it a "Rosetta Stone for Mars."
Lee Saper (NASA Ames, coauthor): said the rock records water-rock interactions and perhaps an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as it was losing water.
Francois Tissot (Caltech, coauthor): said his team is one of very few labs able to perform the rubidium-strontium age-dating and that they hope to date even more Martian meteorites and samples from other celestial bodies.
What to Watch
- Further studies of Teghaza 001 by the broader scientific community may reveal additional details about early Mars and its water history.
- The application of the new in-situ age-dating technique to other Martian meteorites and samples returned by missions like Perseverance.
- Potential confirmation of the 13 possible source locations on Mars by future orbital or rover observations.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTeghaza 001 is one of the oldest Martian meteorites found on Earth and offers a glimpse of ancient crust and water.NASA: “providing a rare snapshot of Mars’ ancient crust and formation. What scientists learn from future studies could help answer many questions, including how water and rocks interacted on ancient Mars.”
- SupportedA NASA-funded study dates Teghaza 001 to more than 4.1 billion years ago.NASA: “the nearly 2-pound (800-gram) rock was a piece of Mars that formed more than 4.1 billion years ago”
- SupportedThe rose-colored meteorite was found in the Sahara Desert in 2022.NASA: “When a rose-colored meteorite was found in the Sahara Desert in 2022”
- SupportedNASA-funded scientists reported the study in Science on Thursday.NASA: “In a paper published Thursday in Science, researchers offered an initial characterization of Teghaza 001”
- SupportedLiu said, “It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique.”NASA: ““It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique,” said the paper’s lead author, Yang Liu of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.”
- SupportedLiu said, “One of the paper's reviewers called it a Rosetta Stone for Mars.”NASA: ““One of the paper’s reviewers called it a Rosetta Stone for Mars.””
- SupportedTissot said, “Right now, we are one of very few labs in the world able to perform this kind of age-dating, and the first to date such an ancient Martian meteorite.”NASA: ““Right now, we are one of very few labs in the world able to perform this kind of age-dating, and the first to date such an ancient Martian meteorite,” Tissot said.”
- SupportedSaper said, “It records interactions of water and rock and maybe even an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as it was losing water.”NASA: ““It records interactions of water and rock and maybe even an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as it was losing water.””
- SupportedLiu said, “We've only scratched the surface.”NASA: ““We’ve only scratched the surface,” Liu said.”
- SupportedThe age-dating showed the meteorite was altered by water around 4.1 billion years ago, suggesting it formed earlier.NASA: “This rock had been altered by Martian water sometime around 4.1 billion years ago, suggesting it originally formed even earlier.”
- SupportedResearchers identified 13 locations on Mars matching the meteorite's chemistry and mineralogy, but its precise origin remains unknown.NASA: “Scientists identified 13 locations on Mars that match the mineralogy and chemistry of Teghaza 001”
