4.1-billion-year-old Martian meteorite found in Mali's Sahara points to water on early Mars

Researchers have found a meteorite from Mars, 4.1 billion years old, in the Sahara desert in Mali. It is considered the oldest and most important of the Martian fragments found on Earth so far.

The meteorite was discovered in the Sahara in 2022 and has been named Teghaza 001. The full research report has been published in the journal Science.

According to the researchers, when the meteorite entered Earth's atmosphere at very high speed and struck the ground, friction and the impact broke it into eight pieces. The largest is about the size of a human fist. Its natural pink colour has changed somewhat because of processes after it entered Earth's atmosphere.

Chemical analysis of the meteorite gave scientists surprising information. It is believed the rock formed when molten lava on Mars came into contact with water beneath the surface and then cooled. Different hydrogen and oxygen elements were found hidden in its various minerals. This makes clear that water was flowing inside Mars or beneath its surface 4.1 billion years ago. However, as changes took place underground and molten rock came into contact with it, this water began to disappear.

Yang Liu, a NASA astronomer who led the study, said: "The Teghaza 001 meteorite is proving extremely valuable for unlocking the secrets of Mars's early period." According to Liu, the meteorite is evidence that 4.1 billion years ago Mars was not the dry and cold planet it is today, but a wet and warm one.

Scientists fixed the age of the meteorite using extremely small zircon crystals found in it, which came out to 4.1 billion years. The new research has revived the debate over whether there was ever life on Mars, or whether conditions there were suitable for life.

The discovery has generated great curiosity among astronomy experts and the general public. It is believed that more major revelations about the history of Mars may come in the future.