Rare meteorite from Mars gives us a view into its ancient crust
Summary
Scientists study a scarce space rock originating from Mars to learn more about the planet's ancient surface. While most Martian craters date back over three billion years, nearly all known meteorites from the planet are much younger. This rare specimen offers researchers a new perspective on the geological history of the Martian crust.
Crater counts tell us that most of the Martian surface is more than 3 billion years old, but pieces of Mars we have on Earth tell a different story. The three main classes of Martian meteorites—shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites—are all 2.4 billion years old or younger. Until now, only two genuinely ancient Martian meteorites were known: Allan Hills 84001, found…
Source: Read the full story at Ars Technica - All content