Andradite mineral discovered in Martian meteorite NWA 8171

Scientists analyzing a tiny fragment (0.8 × 0.5 mm) of the Martian meteorite NWA 8171, housed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, identified microscopic grains of andradite, a iron‑rich garnet never before seen in material from Mars. The finding, published on 16 June 2026 in *Geochemical Perspectives Letters*, suggests the existence of a previously unknown class of Martian crustal material and may require revision of models of the planet’s early thermal and fluid‑circulation history.

The research team, led by planetary geologist Tanya Kizovski of Brock University and collaborators from the University of Portsmouth, used high‑resolution electron microscopy and detailed mineralogical analysis to distinguish the green‑yellow andradite grains from more common pyroxene. Because garnets on Earth record the pressure‑temperature conditions of their formation, the presence of andradite on Mars could provide new insights into the red planet’s geological evolution.