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They fall into three main groups, the basaltic, olivine-phyric (such as the Tissint group found in Morocco in 2011 ) and Lherzolitic shergottites, based on their crystal size and mineral content. Shergottites are igneous rocks of mafic to ultramafic lithology. They are named after the Shergotty meteorite, which fell at Sherghati, India in 1865. Roughly three-quarters of all Martian meteorites can be classified as shergottites. The names derive from the location of where the first meteorite of their type was discovered. They have isotope ratios that are said to be consistent with each other and inconsistent with the Earth. Consequently, Martian meteorites as a whole are sometimes referred to as the SNC group. SHE = Shergottite, NAK = Nakhlite, CHA = Chassignite, OPX = Orthopyroxenite ( ALH 84001), BBR = Basaltic Breccia ( NWA 7034).Īs of April 25, 2018, 192 of the 207 Martian meteorites are divided into three rare groups of achondritic (stony) meteorites: shergottites (169), nakhlites (20), chassignites (3), and ones otherwise (15) (containing the orthopyroxenite (OPX) Allan Hills 84001, as well as 10 basaltic breccia meteorites). The Martian meteorites are divided into three groups (orange) and two grouplets (yellow). If they were from another planetary body, it would have to be substantially identical to Mars as it now is understood." Subdivision They wrote, "There seems little likelihood that the SNCs are not from Mars. In 2000, an article by Treiman, Gleason and Bogard gave a survey of all the arguments used to conclude the SNC meteorites (of which 14 had been found at the time) were from Mars. These trapped gases provided direct evidence for a Martian origin.
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Then in 1983, various trapped gases were reported in impact-formed glass of the EET79001 shergottite, gases which closely resembled those in the Martian atmosphere as analyzed by Viking.
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Several scientists suggested these characteristics implied the origin of SNC meteorites from a relatively large parent body, possibly Mars. Among these differences were younger formation ages, a different oxygen isotopic composition, the presence of aqueous weathering products, and some similarity in chemical composition to analyses of the Martian surface rocks in 1976 by the Viking landers. 3.1 Age estimates based on cosmic ray exposureīy the early 1980s, it was obvious that the SNC group of meteorites (Shergottites, Nakhlites, Chassignites) were significantly different from most other meteorite types.The term does not include meteorites found on Mars, such as Heat Shield Rock. These meteorites are interpreted as Martian because they have elemental and isotopic compositions that are similar to rocks and atmospheric gases on Mars, which have been measured by orbiting spacecraft, surface landers and rovers. Several other Martian meteorites are ungrouped. There are three groups of Martian meteorite: shergottites, nakhlites and chassignites, collectively known as SNC meteorites. It weighs 14.5 kilograms (32 pounds) and is on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. The largest complete, uncut Martian meteorite, Taoudenni 002, was recovered in Mali in early 2021. As of September 2020, 277 meteorites had been classified as Martian, less than half a percent of the 72,000 meteorites that have been classified. Ī Martian meteorite is a rock that formed on Mars, was ejected from the planet by an impact event, and traversed interplanetary space before landing on Earth as a meteorite. Martian meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed "Black Beauty," weighs approximately 320 g (11 oz).