Scientists have identified one of the oldest Martian meteorites ever found on Earth, revealing evidence that water interacted with the Red Planet’s crust at least 4.1 billion years ago.
The rose-colored meteorite, known as Teghaza 001, was discovered in Mali’s Sahara Desert in 2022. Its unusual chemical composition offers researchers a rare glimpse into Mars’ earliest history and the role water played in shaping the planet. The study, published in the journal Science, adds to growing evidence of ancient water on Mars.
Rare crystals reveal meteorite’s ancient age
Teghaza 001 consists of eight fragments weighing a combined 798.5 grams, or about 1.76 pounds. Scientists believe the rock formed when molten material from Mars’ mantle cooled beneath the planet’s surface. Researchers initially classified the meteorite as a shergottite, the most common type of Martian meteorite found on Earth. These rocks are generally younger than 600 million years.
Yang Liu, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, nearly passed on studying the specimen. However, she discovered zircon crystals, minerals that preserve evidence of when rocks formed.
A 4.1 billion year old piece of Mars discovered in the Sahara Desert
Found in Mali in 2022, the 800 gram meteorite, named Teghaza 001, contains minerals showing that water once interacted with Mars' crust, providing evidence of the planet's ancient watery past pic.twitter.com/Km5ev8q7Fo
— Wonders of Nature (@wonderofnatur) November 6, 2026
Dating the crystals revealed that Teghaza 001 was at least 4.1 billion years old. To confirm the findings, researchers used a new laser-based dating technique developed at the California Institute of Technology. The method examines tiny mineral grains while preserving much of the original rock. The technique reduced the time needed to date a sample from about a month to one day.
Martian meteorites are particularly valuable because they allow scientists to study rocks from another planet directly. Some specimens, including a large Martian meteorite discovered in Niger, have attracted considerable attention.
Ancient meteorite reveals evidence of water on Mars
Chemical analysis revealed that Teghaza 001 contains two calcium-rich minerals in proportions unlike those found in previously studied Martian meteorites. Researchers also identified unusual oxygen isotope signatures and evidence that water-rich fluids altered the rock billions of years ago. The findings add to earlier research suggesting that water helped shape Mars’ minerals and surface before the planet became dry.
Scientists compared the meteorite’s composition with information collected by NASA missions to Mars. They identified 13 possible locations in the planet’s southern highlands where the rock may have originated. An asteroid or comet impact likely blasted the rock into space before it eventually reached Earth. Researchers say the discovery could help explain how Mars developed its crust and why the planet became dry while Earth retained much of its water.
Understanding these differences could also provide clues about whether early Mars had conditions suitable for life. Previous research has identified possible signs of ancient life in Martian rocks, although scientists have not confirmed that life ever existed on the planet.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
