Martian Meteorites Collected on Earth After a Space Rock Smashed Mars 11 Million Years Ago [Study]

Earth has something physical from Mars—the remnants of the Red Planet that were hurled into space and landed on our planet after a space rock smashed it millions of years ago.

Martian Meteorites Found on Earth

Eleven million years ago, a meteorite collided with Mars, sending fragments of the Red Planet hurtling into space. Some of these fragments, which came to Earth as meteorites, left behind unmatched evidence of the planet's composition.

Following a thorough examination of Martian meteorites gathered from all over the world, including Africa and Antarctica, researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have published a paper.

James Day, a geologist at Scripps College, and his associates examined the chemical compositions of the debris on Mars. They say the findings are significant for comprehending the formation and evolution of Mars and offering accurate data that can guide ongoing NASA missions such as Insight, Perseverance, and the Mars Sample Return.

"Martian meteorites are the only physical materials we have available from Mars," said Day.

The discovery allowed the Day's team to measure exact quantities and subsequently calculate the processes on Mars and near its surface. They offer firsthand knowledge of Mars' composition that can support mission science, such as the current Perseverance rover activities.

Day's group used the meteorite samples, known as nakhlites and chassignites-which all originated from the same Mars volcano, and were given names based on where they were discovered on Earth to piece together its story of how Mars formed. The first was found at Chassigny, France, in 1815 and Nakhla, Egypt, in 1905.

Since then, more of these meteorites have been found in Antarctica and Mauritania, among other places. Because of these meteorites, scientists have determined that Mars is where they originated.

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What Are Nakhlites and Chassignites?

Nakhlites are basaltic, resembling the lavas currently erupting in Hawaii and Iceland, but they are abundant in clinopyroxene.

On the other hand, chassignites are mostly made of the mineral olivine. While olivines are common in the mantle, basalts comprise most of the Earth's crust, particularly beneath the seas.

The scientists demonstrated how fractional crystallization, which occurs inside the volcano where these rocks were generated, is how these rocks are related to one another. They further indicate that some of the nakhlites that were molten at the time included surface crust that was in contact with Mars' atmosphere based on the chemistry of these rocks.

The volcanism of Mars and Earth bears many parallels and contrasts. On the one hand, the formation of nakhlites and chassignites is comparable to recent volcanism in locations such as Oahu, Hawaii. Recently formed volcanoes exert pressure on the mantle, causing tectonic forces to arise and intensifying volcanism.

Day added that the reservoirs on Mars are incredibly old, having split apart from one another not long after the formation of the Red Planet. Over time, plate tectonics has assisted in remixing reservoirs on Earth. In this way, Mars serves as a crucial link between the current appearance of Earth and what it might have been like in the past.

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Check out more news and information on Mars in Science Times.