Scientists pinpoint Martian origin of 4.5 billion-year-old 'Black Beauty' meteorite
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Loading... - Vittoria Riva
- 01 Aug 2022
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The birthplace of the oldest known Martian meteorite may have been pinpointed on the Red Planet.
The findings may reveal clues about the origins of Mars, Earth and the solar system's other terrestrial planets.
In a new study, scientists analyzed the 11-ounce (320 grams) meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed "Black Beauty," which was discovered in Morocco in 2011. Like more than 300 other rocks that have fallen to Earth from space, NWA 7034 came from Mars, blasted off the Red Planet by cosmic impacts.
Previous research found that NWA 7034 is the oldest known Martian meteorite, dating to about 4.5 billion years ago. It is also the only so-called brecciated Martian sample available on Earth, meaning it contains angular fragments of multiple rock types cemented together. In contrast, all other known Martian meteorites contain single rock types.
Until now, scientists did not know precisely where on Mars NWA 7034 came from. Now, researchers may have pinpointed Black Beauty's exact point of origin. Read More...
