Martian Meteorite Teghaza 001: Ancient Slice Reveals Secrets of Mars’ Early Crust

This slice of Teghaza 001, one of the oldest Martian meteorites ever found on Earth, proved instrumental in determining the age of the rock. Reflected-light images like this serve as a scientist’s roadmap, helping to identify the minerals of interest for analysis by various instruments.

Figure A displays the same image with annotations highlighting key minerals, such as iron-titanium oxides (appearing as brighter grains) and pyroxene (in medium gray), both of which contribute to the story of Mars’ crust and mantle formation. The darker shocked plagioclase was created by extreme pressures during impacts, including the one that sent Teghaza 001 hurtling through space before reaching Earth. The observed alteration reflects fine-grained carbonate, sulfate, and clay minerals that formed on Earth.

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