SCIENTISTS HAVE TRACED SIX METEORITES BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL CRATERS ON MARS IN A SCIENTIFIC FIRST

CHRISSY NEWTON
·AUGUST 16, 2024



Scientists have successfully traced six meteorites to their original craters on Mars, providing unprecedented new insights into their origins.

Christopher Herd, a professor and curator at the University of Alberta Meteorite Collection, led recent research that revealed that these meteorites likely came from Mars. Traces of these Martian meteorites are found in lava flows on Mars and provide evidence of the age of these craters. Overall, the new findings help experts understand the timeline of Mars’ history.

“If we can link a specific meteorite with a known age to a specific geological unit on Mars, we could put a ‘spike’ in the chronology of Mars,” Herd told The Debrief. “We are not quite there yet, but our study paves the way.”

Approximately 200 Martian meteorites exist worldwide in various collections, mainly belonging to the shergottite rock subgroup. “The shergottites represent over 80 percent by number of all Martian meteorites. They are all relatively young igneous rocks. So knowing where they come from is key to knowing where most meteorites from Mars are from,” Herd said.

More:
https://thedebrief.org/scientists-have-traced-six-meteorites-back-to-their-original-craters-on-mars-in-a-scientific-first/