A rare Martian meteorite discovered in the Sahara desert is helping scientists bridge a nearly two-billion-year gap in the Red Planet’s geological history, according to research published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Designated Northwest Africa (NWA) 13441, the 0.03-ounce sample was found in Algeria in 2019 and dates back 1.27 billion years, offering a look at a mysterious era in Martian evolution.
Unlocking a Two-Billion-Year Geological Gap
Surface collisions on Mars occasionally propel fragments of the Red Planet outward into space, with some eventually falling to Earth as meteorites. Among the approximately 400 recognized specimens, zero have been assigned an age falling between 600 million and 2.4 billion years ago. Shergottites represent the most frequent variety of Martian meteorites, with the majority tracing back roughly 600 million years alongside a pair of samples aged at approximately 2.4 billion years. That leaves a nearly 2 billion-year gap in Mars’ history, which scientists know little about.
A Surprising Blend of Shergottite and Chondrite
When analyzing NWA 13441, researchers discovered that its chemical composition matched standard shergottites while also containing traces of neodymium, a rare-earth metal typically found in chondrites dating back to the early formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. “The characteristics of this meteorite were entirely surprising,” Ethan Baxter, an Earth and environmental science professor at Boston College and co-author of the study, said in a statement, adding that no other martian meteorite like this has an age of 1.27 billion years old.
Did you know? Following the birth of the solar system, Mars developed quite rapidly, attaining its full dimensions in a span under 5 million years. Unlike Earth, Mars does not have plate tectonics, allowing its early-formed composition to remain pristine.
Tracing Volcanic Activity and Unsampled Reservoirs
Scientists date rocks to when they solidified from magma. Scientists deduce that NWA 13441 developed near the transition zone separating the Martian crust and mantle, subsequently expelled by volcanic activity roughly 1.27 billion years ago to cool and harden at the surface. According to the study’s findings, the chondritic makeup of NWA 13441 implies it originated from an unexplored Martian reservoir or resulted from a combination of enriched and depleted shergottites. This points to deep parts of Mars that remained relatively unaltered by the different geological processes that took place since it formed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the NWA 13441 meteorite found?
The meteorite was discovered in Algeria in 2019.
Why is this Martian meteorite unique?
NWA 13441 is 1.27 billion years old, and no other martian meteorite like this has an age of 1.27 billion years old. It also features a blend of shergottite and chondrite characteristics.
What are shergottites?
Shergottites are the most common type of Martian meteorite.
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