Meteorite hunters roaming the Sahara Desert in northern Mali collected scattered fragments of an unusual rock in 2022. While experts quickly identified the material as Martian in origin, its precise age remained an open question. Researchers have now dated the specimen, designated Teghaza 001, to approximately 4.1 billion years ago. Published in Science, the findings place the rock among the oldest Martian meteorites ever recovered on Earth, providing scientists with a physical window into the Red Planet less than 500 million years after its formation.
Earth has received more than 400 Martian meteorites blasted into space by ancient impacts, though the vast majority are relatively young rocks that offer limited insight into the planet's earliest eras. Teghaza 001 joins a rare cohort of ancient specimens that preserve deep geological records, similar to ALH 84001 and the meteorite known as Black Beauty. Initially misidentified as a common shergottite, the rose-colored stone drew closer inspection when geologists discovered zircon crystals hidden inside. Using a precise dating method on mineral grains smaller than a fingernail, the research team determined the rock was altered by Martian water around 4.1 billion years ago, implying it formed even earlier.
Beyond its age, the unique volcanic mineral composition of Teghaza 001 offers direct clues about how the Martian crust solidified from cooling magma before undergoing sustained interaction with subsurface water. NASA scientists point out that the sample originates from an unexplored region of Mars, capturing chemical traces of a dynamic ancient water cycle and potential signatures of an evolving atmosphere. As researchers continue analyzing the fragments, the meteorite could unlock further details regarding whether early Mars possessed the right environmental conditions to support life.
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