Teghaza 001 meteorite provides rare glimpse into ancient Mars

A NASA-supported research team has identified a rare, rose-colored meteorite found in the Sahara Desert as a fragment of the original Martian crust. The specimen, designated Teghaza 001, was discovered in 2022 within a salt plain in Mali.

Scientists estimate the meteorite is at least 4.1 billion years old, making it significantly older than most previously studied Martian samples. Using radiometric dating methods, including uranium-lead and rubidium-strontium analyses, researchers determined the rock formed within the first 400 million years of Mars' existence.

The meteorite consists of eight fragments totaling 798.5 grams. Its unique chemical composition and mineralogy, specifically its calcium-rich minerals and oxygen isotope abundances, suggest it originated from a previously unsampled area of the Martian mantle and crust.

Findings published in the journal Science indicate the rock's structure shows it formed from cooling magma that was later altered by subsurface water. This provides evidence that early Mars may have had a more dynamic water cycle and different habitability conditions than previously understood.