Ontario, June 22 (SANA) Scientists have identified microscopic grains of garnet inside a meteorite from Mars, a discovery researchers say is the first of its kind in known Martian samples and could provide new clues about the planet’s geological history.
According to ScienceAlert, the findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters. The garnet grains were found in the meteorite NWA 8171, which is housed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada.
Researchers initially classified the material as pyroxene, but further analysis revealed it to be andradite, a calcium-rich, iron-bearing variety of garnet.
The discovery raises questions about the conditions under which the mineral formed, as garnet typically develops under high temperatures and pressures that have not yet been clearly confirmed on the Martian surface.
Scientists said the finding could improve understanding of geological processes that shaped Mars, including volcanic activity, meteorite impacts and interactions deep within the planet’s crust.
However, the researchers cautioned that the origin of the mineral grains remains uncertain. They said the garnet may have formed outside Mars before later becoming incorporated into Martian rocks.
The team emphasized that the findings remain preliminary and require further study to confirm how and where the mineral formed.
The research was conducted by an international team from several institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the University of Toronto and the Lunar and Planetary Institute in the United States.
R.H/Abd
