Martian Meteorite

     A blazing fireball struck over the Moroccan desert and scientists claim it is the freshest sample from Mars surface that has ever been discovered. Desert nomads uncovered the Martian fragments and scientists revealed that the space rock resembles a meteorite that was discovered in Antarctica in 1980. Unlike other meteorites that may have settled on Earth’s surface for a substantial period of time ‘Tissint’ (newly discovered meteorite) has not had much influence, terrestrially. Carl Agee of the University of New Mexico, a planetary scientists states, “it’s really a great sample if you’re interested in studying something that has more or less been delivered straight from Mars, uncontaminated, to the Earth” (Agee). Scientists project the same ideology however; they say contamination still could be a factor. Harry McSween Jr. of the University of Tennessee, another planetary scientist, states that the meteorite was present in the desert area for months. McSween also notes that, “nevertheless, it’s an interesting sample, in that it is probably less altered than others we have that weren’t collected immediately” (McSween). The meteorite Tissint is rich in magnesium and iron and is composed of volcanic ash. “It’s sort of like having a little Martian environment tucked away inside that meteorite,” Agee says.

* Information obtained at www.sciencenews.org 

 * Pictures obtained at www.sciencenews.org & www.astrobob.areavoices.com

 Figure 14.1

 Figure 14.2