Rare meteorite from Mars gives us a view into its ancient crust

A team of scientists has identified a third ancient Martian meteorite, Teghaza 001, found in the Sahara Desert in Mali, which is estimated to be 4.1 billion years old, providing valuable insights into the Martian crust's formation. The meteorite is similar to some of the oldest rocks on Earth and is a single, intact igneous rock, unlike most Martian meteorites which are fragments of soil or rock mixtures. The discovery highlights the rarity of ancient Martian rocks on Earth and suggests that only strong rocks can survive the impact that launches them off the planet.