NASA-Funded Study Dates Ancient Martian Meteorite to Over 4.1 Billion Years
NASA-funded scientists date Teghaza 001, an 800-gram Martian meteorite found in Mali, to over 4.1 billion years, revealing early crust and water alteration.
The story in focus
NASA-funded scientists age-dated an 800-gram Martian meteorite named Teghaza 001, found in Mali's Sahara Desert in 2022, to more than 4.1 billion years old. The meteorite is one of the three oldest known from Mars and preserves evidence of early crust formation and subsurface water alteration.
- Teghaza 001 weighs 800 grams and was found in the Sahara Desert in Mali in 2022.
- Zircon crystals in the meteorite were age-dated using a novel in-situ rubidium-strontium method.
- The meteorite formed more than 4.1 billion years ago, making it one of the three oldest Martian meteorites.
- Its igneous mineralogy records early crust formation and alteration by subsurface water.
- The mineralogy matches observations of Mars' southern highlands by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Discovery and dating
A rose-colored meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in Mali in 2022 has been identified as a piece of Mars that formed more than 4.1 billion years ago. Named Teghaza 001 after the salt plain where it was discovered, the 800-gram rock is one of roughly 435 known Martian meteorites.
Researchers used zircon crystals within the meteorite to determine its age. A novel in-situ rubidium-strontium dating method, pioneered by Caltech coauthor Francois Tissot, analyzed single mineral grains on a piece smaller than a fingernail, preserving the rare sample for future studies. The technique is currently performed by only a few labs worldwide.
Geological significance
Teghaza 001 is one of the three most ancient Martian meteorites found on Earth. Unlike its ancient peers, it contains a mix of igneous minerals that record how the planet's crust formed from cooling magma and was later altered by subsurface water. The meteorite's distinctive mineralogy matches what NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has observed in the planet's cratered southern highlands.
The findings, published in Science, provide a rare snapshot of Mars' ancient crust. A separate paper in Science Advances in June detailed the meteorite's water content, offering insight into how water shaped the early planet's surface. The paper identifies several potential locations on Mars that match Teghaza 001's mineralogy and chemistry, though its exact origin will never be known.
What method was used to determine the age of Teghaza 001?
Researchers used a novel in-situ rubidium-strontium age-dating method on zircon crystals, analyzing single mineral grains on a piece smaller than a fingernail. This approach preserves the rare meteorite for future studies.
Sources & further reading
Help keep the record accurate. Send a correction.