Martian meteorite found in the Sahara is 4.1 billion years old

Scientists have discovered a Martian meteorite named Teghaza 001 in the Sahara desert of Mali, which is estimated to be 4.1 billion years old. This makes it the oldest of the 435 known Martian meteorites on Earth. The meteorite's composition reveals insights into the early environment of Mars, suggesting it may have been warmer and wetter than it is now.

The meteorite, a type of coarse-grained rock called gabbro, contained zircon crystals with uranium that helped researchers determine its age through decay. The presence of water in the meteorite, evidenced by oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, supports the notion that Mars may have been conducive to microbial life in its early stages.

Only three Martian meteorites, including Teghaza 001, date to the planet's early history, suggesting these unique samples provide crucial information about the formation and evolution of Mars.