Researchers find 4.1 billion year old pink Martian meteorite in Mali

Researchers analyzed a pinkish Martian meteorite found in the Sahara Desert of Mali to uncover the geological history of the Red Planet.

The rock, which weighs approximately 800 grams, was discovered in 2022 and named Teghaza 001 after the salt plain where it appeared. Scientists from the University of New Mexico and the California Institute of Technology identified the fragment as a piece of Mars based on its oxygen isotopes and chemical composition.

The team used mineral analysis to determine that the meteorite is at least 4.11 billion years old. This age places it among the three oldest Martian meteorites ever cataloged. Researchers used zircons within the rock to calculate this date, as these minerals change from uranium to lead at a known rate. Another analysis of rubidium and strontium isotopes suggested an even older age of approximately 4.24 billion years.

The study reveals that the rock likely cooled slowly beneath the Martian surface before an impact ejected it into space. Scientists identified minerals and oxygen proportions that indicate the presence of active water on Mars billions of years ago. These findings suggest that water activity on Mars was more intense than previously thought. The research was supported by NASA and compared against data from the Viking, Curiosity, and Perseverance missions.