Rare meteorite from Mars gives us a view into its ancient crust (Ars Technica)

GRANT BRICKMAN: A rock from Mars, found in the Sahara, turns out to be over four billion years old.

GRANT BRICKMAN: Breaking news this hour! A rock from Mars has turned up on Earth, and scientists say it is truly ancient. Live now to Nova. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: Greta here. The meteorite is called Teghaza 001, and the report says it formed at least 4.1 billion years ago. ▶

NOVA: Grant, this just landed and I am thrilled! A piece of Mars, found in the Sahara in Mali in 2022, older than almost any Martian rock we hold. ▶

NOVA: The three main classes of Martian meteorites are all 2.4 billion years old or younger. Teghaza 001 is far older. Cosmic perspective, people! ▶

NOVA: On screen, file footage of rocky desert ground. Until now only two genuinely ancient Martian meteorites were known: Allan Hills 84001 and Black Beauty. ▶

NOVA: Yang Liu, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says it is very old and similar to some of the oldest rocks on Earth. ▶

NOVA: Why so rare? Liu says it takes a large impact to launch a rock off Mars, and weak rocks do not make it. The impact acts as a filter. ▶

GRANT BRICKMAN: So Mars posted us a rock and the Sahara was the return address. Remarkable service. I stand by that. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: It was found in the Sahara, Grant. It left Mars after a big impact. Nobody posted anything. ▶