NASA: meteorite more than 4.1 billion years old reveals the history of early Mars

A Martian meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in 2022 formed more than 4.1 billion years ago, according to a NASA-funded study presented on October 29, 2026. Named Teghaza 001, the rock weighs about 800 grams and is among the oldest known meteorites originating from Mars.

A window into the planet's ancient crust

Scientists determined the age of the meteorite's minerals by analysing their composition and structure. The rock contains several types of igneous minerals that formed as molten rock cooled. Some were subsequently altered through contact with water below the Martian surface.

The study, published in the journal Science, allows researchers to compare laboratory findings with mineral signatures observed by spacecraft above the southern highlands of Mars. The authors identify several areas where the rock might have originated, but its precise source remains unknown.

Why the discovery matters

Unlike some other very ancient Martian meteorites, Teghaza 001 contains a diverse range of minerals. This provides a broader record of the processes that shaped Mars' early crust and of ancient interactions between rocks and water.

The meteorite was found on Earth; it is not part of the samples collected by NASA's Mars rovers. The findings add to scientists' understanding of the Red Planet's geological history.

Снимка: NASA/JPL-CaltechPhoto: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Sources: NASA/JPL: scientific announcement of October 29, 2026; NASA Photojournal PIA26801.