NASA-funded study examines ancient Mars meteorite Teghaza 001
NASA describes new research on a meteorite found in Mali in 2022, with evidence of water alteration on Mars around 4.1 billion years ago.
What the record says
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported October 29 that a NASA-funded paper in Science provides an initial characterization of Teghaza 001, a Martian meteorite found in Mali in 2022. NASA says the rock formed more than 4.1 billion years ago, placing it among the oldest Martian meteorites found on Earth.
According to NASA, the rock’s mixture of volcanic minerals records the formation of ancient Martian crust and later alteration by subsurface water. Mineral age measurements indicate water alteration around 4.1 billion years ago, suggesting the rock formed earlier. Its mineralogy resembles observations of Mars’ southern highlands, but its exact original location is unknown.
The new characterization is separate from a Science Advances paper published in June that examined the meteorite’s water content. Researchers plan further study of the sample; this account establishes neither evidence of life nor present-day liquid water on Mars.
Source details and supporting locations.
Practical next step
Read NASA’s account and its linked studies for the research methods and findings.
Limits and what is not established
The meteorite was found in 2022; the new development is the October 29 study. The age of water alteration is not an exact formation date, and the meteorite’s source location on Mars has not been identified.
Sources checked October 30, 2026. Later notices may change instructions or arrangements.
Original sources
NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory: original information