Scientists find new rock type in Martian meteorite, but origin still uncertain

An international group of scientists has discovered a previously unknown type of rock on Mars, along with the identification of the mineral garnet in a Martian sample for the first time. This remarkable find was made from a fragment of the Martian meteorite NWA 8171, currently housed in the Royal Ontario Museum’s collection. The research was spearheaded by Tanya Kizovski, an Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences at Brock University, alongside colleagues from the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Portsmouth.

The discovery provides scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to study the planet’s ancient geological history spanning 4.5 billion years. However, the meteorite’s Martian origin remains unconfirmed.