Teghaza 001 Slice Reveals Mars Crust Clues in One of Oldest Meteorites
Updated
Updated · NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory · Oct 28
Teghaza 001 Slice Reveals Mars Crust Clues in One of Oldest Meteorites
3 articles · Updated · NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory · Oct 28
Summary
Scientists analyzed a slice of Teghaza 001 to date the Martian rock and probe how Mars’ crust and mantle formed.
Reflected-light imaging mapped key minerals in the sample, guiding instrument checks of bright iron-titanium oxides and medium-gray pyroxene that preserve evidence of early Martian geology.
Darker shocked plagioclase records the extreme pressures of the impact that blasted Teghaza 001 off Mars and eventually sent it to Earth.
Fine-grain carbonate, sulfate and clay minerals mark later alteration on Earth, helping researchers separate terrestrial changes from the meteorite’s original Martian history.