Martian meteorite found in Sahara reveals ancient watery history

Scientists analyzed a Martian meteorite named Teghaza 001, which was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2022.

This two-pound rock originated from the crust of Mars and traveled to Earth after being ejected by an impact. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other scientists found that the fragment is at least 4.1 billion years old. The analysis of the meteorite revealed chemical traces of interactions between the Martian crust and an ancient hydrosphere.

Tiny apatite crystals within the rock contain hydrogen from two different sources: the interior of Mars and its early water systems. This suggests that materials from magma deep inside the planet exchanged with a water-rich surface very early in the solar system's history. The rock provides a unique record of a time when Mars was a volatile environment. While Mars is currently a cold and barren desert, this sample shows it once had liquid water.

Scientists believe the meteorite may even contain an imprint of the Martian atmosphere as the planet lost its water. This discovery helps researchers understand how Mars transformed from a potentially hospitable world into its current state.