Mars meteorite NWA 13441 fills 2-billion-year geological gap

Researchers at Boston College have identified a rare Martian meteorite that fills a significant 1.8-billion-year gap in the geological history of Mars. The meteorite, designated Northwest Africa 13441 (NWA 13441), was discovered in Algeria in 2019.

Using precise isotope dating, scientists determined the rock crystallized approximately 1.273 billion years ago. This finding is critical because most known shergottites—a group of volcanic Martian rocks—are either younger than 600 million years or older than 2.4 billion years, leaving a massive period of Martian history undocumented.

Beyond its age, the meteorite possesses a unique neodymium signature. This signature closely resembles a “chondritic” composition, suggesting the rock originated from a deep interior region of Mars that has remained largely unchanged since the early formation of the solar system about 4.56 billion years ago.