The meteorite is known as “Black Beauty” and could offer a view of the primitive Earth. (Nasa)
A Martian meteorite from the dawn of the solar system 4,480 million years ago, known as Black Beauty, could help explain why there is life on Earth and not on Mars.
The meteorite offers a glimpse of what the surface of both Earth and Mars was like 4.5 billion years ago and is amazingly like Iceland, researchers say.
On Earth, the ancient surface has been lost due to plate tectonics, so Black Beauty, which comes from one of the oldest regions of Mars, could offer an insight into why the Earth has evolved. to support life and Mars does not.
Valerie Payré, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at the University of Northern Arizona, said: “This meteorite recorded the first stage of the evolution of Mars and, by extension, of all terrestrial planets. including the Earth.
“Because the Earth lost its ancient surface mainly due to plate tectonics, the observation of these scenarios on extremely ancient land on Mars is a rare window into the ancient surface of the Earth that we lost a long time ago. of time “.
The team, led by Anthony Lagain of Curtin University in Australia, searched for the location of the origin of a Martian meteorite (officially called NWA – Northwest Africa – 7034 where it was found on Earth) .
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The chemistry of the meteorite shows that Mars had a volcanic activity similar to that found on Earth.
It recorded the first stage of the evolution of Mars.
This team studied the chemical and physical properties of Black Beauty to identify where it came from; they determined that it was from Terra Cimmeria-Sirenum, one of the oldest regions of Mars.
The team was able to isolate the most plausible ejection site: the Karratha crater that excavated the ejecta from an older crater called Khujirt.
Anthony Lagain, of Curtin University in Australia, said: “For the first time, we know the geological context of the only brecciated Martian sample available on Earth, 10 years before the mission to return the Mars sample from NASA is scheduled to send samples collected by NASA Rover Perseverance currently exploring the Jezero crater.
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“This research paved the way for locating the ejection site of other Martian meteorites, in order to create the most comprehensive view of the geological history of the Red Planet.”
Payré studies the nature and formation of the crust of Mars to determine whether Earth and Mars share a common past that includes both the continental and oceanic crust.
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She uses orbital observations captured in this region to investigate whether there are traces of volcanism similar to Iceland on Mars.
She says: “To this day, the complexity of Mars’ crust is not understood, and knowing about the origin of these amazing ancient fragments could lead to future space missions and rover to explore the Terra Sirenum region. -A summit that hides the truth of the evolution of Mars., And perhaps that of Earth.
“This work paves the way for locating the ejection site of other Martian meteorites that will provide the most comprehensive view of Mars’ geological history and answer one of the most intriguing questions: why Mars, now dry and cold, went evolve so differently from Mars. Earth, a thriving planet for life? “
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