The 800-gram rock, named Teghaza 001, provides rare evidence of Mars' early crust formation and historical interactions between water and rock.
A meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert of Mali has been identified as one of the oldest Martian rocks ever found on Earth. The 800-gram rock, named Teghaza 001 after the salt plain where it was discovered in 2022, dates back over 4.1 billion years, according to research published in the scientific journal Science.
Teghaza 001 is among approximately 435 meteorites from Mars identified on Earth. However, its specific age and mineral composition make it particularly valuable to researchers. Unlike some other ancient Martian rocks, this discovery contains a mixture of volcanic minerals. These minerals provide clues regarding how the initial crust of Mars formed from cooling magma.
“It was only after we started looking closely that we realized this meteorite is really unique,” said Yang Liu of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who is the lead author of the paper. One reviewer of the paper referred to the meteorite as a "Rosetta Stone for Mars."
Research indicates that the meteorite shows evidence of alteration by water beneath the Martian surface. This provides details about ancient interactions between water and rocks. A separate study published in Science Advances in June examined the water content of Teghaza 001, offering further insight into how water interacted with the Martian surface during the planet's early history.
“This is really our first piece of Martian crust from a part of Mars we’ve never had a sample of before,” said Lee Saper, the paper’s second author, who conducted research while at JPL as a postdoctoral scholar.
“It records interactions of water and rock and maybe even an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as it was losing water,” Lee added.
Evidence derived from chemical composition, microstructural features, and oxygen isotope ratios suggests that early Mars had a "substantially more active hydrological cycle."
While researchers have identified several possible locations on Mars that match the chemical and mineral composition of the meteorite, the exact point of origin for Teghaza 001 remains unknown. The report showed that the sample underwent modification by Martian water processes approximately 4.1 billion years ago, indicating its initial formation predated that period.
Further studies of the rock may help scientists understand how Mars developed more than four billion years ago and whether conditions on the planet were once more favorable to water and potentially life.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Three NASA astronauts used electronic ballots to participate in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections from the International Space Station.
The Vera Rubin Observatory has identified 2026 ED138, a trans-Neptunian object that may qualify as a dwarf planet.
