Ancient Mars Meteorite Offers Clues to the Planet’s Past

WHO:

Phys.org - Scientists at the University of New Mexico played a key role in identifying the meteorite.

NASA - NASA-funded scientists age-dated the meteorite’s minerals.

WHAT:

Phys.org - Scientists identified a rare Martian meteorite estimated to be 4.1 billion years old.

Phys.org - The meteorite provides evidence that Mars may once have had a wetter, Earth-like environment.

NASA - The meteorite is a nearly 2-pound (800-gram) rock and is one of the oldest Mars meteorites ever found.

NASA - Scientists determined the rock is a piece of Mars that formed more than 4.1 billion years ago.

WHERE:

NASA - The rose-colored meteorite was found in the Sahara Desert.

WHY:

Phys.org - The meteorite is significant because it offers evidence about Mars’s ancient environment.

HOW:

NASA - Scientists established the meteorite’s age by age-dating its minerals.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 00:02 UTC)

Scientists have identified a rare, nearly 2-pound Martian meteorite from the Sahara Desert, one of the oldest Mars rocks ever found. By age-dating its minerals, researchers determined it formed more than 4.1 billion years ago. The meteorite offers evidence that ancient Mars may once have had a wetter, more Earth-like environment.