A “FRESH” Martian meteorite that fell to Earth last year contains unique evidence of water weathering on the planet’s surface.
The rock, blasted off Mars some 700,000 years ago by an asteroid or comet impact, also bears traces of the planet’s atmosphere, say scientists.
Analysis of samples indicates it originated on or near the Martian surface. There are also signs of elements being carried into cracks in the rock by water or fluid – something never seen before in a Martian meteorite.
Martian meteorites allow scientists to study the planet’s geology without mounting expensive space missions.
However, most are not found until long after their arrival, allowing them to be spoiled by Earthly contamination.
The meteorite, known as Tissint, is one of only five collected after being seen falling to Earth. After breaking up in the atmosphere, fragments landed on a desert region of southern Morocco near the town of Tissint on 18 July, 2011.
The pieces were analysed by a team of scientists including experts at London’s Natural History Museum.
Dr Caroline Smith, meteorites curator at the museum, said: “One of the main things we found was some of the chemical signatures in this meteorite indicate it must be from quite close to the surface of Mars.”