Key facts
- Teghaza 001, a Martian meteorite found in Mali, is at least 4.1 billion years old.
- The meteorite's age suggests it is a piece of Mars' ancient crust.
- Teghaza 001's composition indicates active water circulation on Mars billions of years ago.
- The rock's magma source suggests a more complex Martian mantle evolution than previously understood.
A Martian meteorite named Teghaza 001, discovered in Mali's Sahara Desert in 2022, has been dated to at least 4.1 billion years old, making it a rare piece of Mars' ancient crust. The rock's composition and alteration patterns suggest that liquid water was actively circulating through the Martian crust during its formation, indicating a more dynamic early Mars than previously understood. Scientists believe the magma from which Teghaza 001 crystallized originated from deep within the Martian mantle, suggesting a more complex mantle evolution in the planet's early history.