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Mali Sahara meteorite may be among the oldest Martian rocks found on Earth, dating to at least 4.1 billion years

Scientists say a reddish igneous meteorite recovered in Mali’s Sahara in 2022 formed in the Martian crust at least 4.1 billion years ago. If confirmed, it would be the oldest of the 435 known meteorites from Mars found on Earth, offering a rare sample of the planet’s early crust.

Discovered 2026-10-29T11:34:17.832516-07:00 | 2026-10-29T11:34:17.832516-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The meteorite provides a rare, directly studied sample of Martian crust from at least 4.1 billion years ago, offering evidence about the planet’s early geological history.
It may be the oldest of the 435 known Martian meteorites found on Earth, making its analysis significant for research into Mars’ formation and evolution.

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NASA/JPL Reuters NASA CNA