Martian meteorite may reveal clues about Mars’ early history

A meteorite believed to be at least 4.4 billion years old may help scientists better understand Mars’ formation and geology. Researchers studying the rock, known as NWA 8171, found garnet inside it — a mineral not previously identified in Martian material. The discovery was made by Brock University earth sciences assistant professor Tanya Kizovski while working with the Royal Ontario Museum and an international research team in Toronto. The meteorite is a breccia, meaning it is made up of fragments of different rocks, which can preserve information about longago geological processes. Scientists say the find could offer new clues about conditions inside Mars and raise questions about whether the planet once had rockforming processes unlike those seen in earlier Martian samples. However, researchers note that the garnet’s exact origin is still uncertain, and more testing would be needed to confirm it came from Mars itself.