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<\/a><\/p>\nLeft: Stardust Mine type specimen; Right: Layered element map of a fragment of Stardust Mine showing the distribution of mineral. Image credit: University of Minnesota<\/p>\n
Researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering helped characterize\u00a0Stardust Mine, the first Martian meteorite<\/a> to be unequivocally documented after being discovered on U.S. soil. Their findings show the meteorite formed from one of the most chemically evolved Martian magmas yet identified, crystallized much closer to the planet\u2019s surface than many comparable Martian meteorites and may represent a previously unknown type of Martian rock.<\/p>\n Published in one of the world\u2019s leading planetary science journals,\u00a0Meteoritics & Planetary Science<\/a>, the study expands scientists\u2019 understanding of the Red Planet\u2019s volcanic history and offers new insight into how Mars\u2019 crust developed billions of years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are only about 400 known meteorites from Mars,\u201d said\u00a0Jennifer Mitchell<\/a>, lead author of the study and a researcher in the University of Minnesota\u2019s\u00a0Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Characterization Facility<\/a>. \u201cEvery new meteorite is exciting, but this one is especially fascinating. Even through relatively standard analyses, we learned an enormous amount about how magma behaved on Mars. We found one of the most evolved Martian magmas yet identified, evidence that crystallization began at surprisingly shallow depths, and signs that movement within the magma played a major role in creating the mineral features we see today.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Martian meteorites represent only a small number of impact events, they provide scientists with rare samples that reveal aspects of Mars\u2019 volcanic history unavailable through orbital observations alone. Each one preserves a unique record of Mars\u2019 geologic past, making every new discovery an opportunity to better understand how the planet formed, evolved and ultimately became what we see today.<\/p>\n Using advanced instruments in the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility, the research team analyzed the meteorite\u2019s mineral chemistry without destroying the rare specimen. By examining the composition and arrangement of its minerals, the researchers reconstructed the conditions under which the rock formed, estimating the temperatures and depths at which its minerals crystallized and tracing how the magma changed as it rose through the Martian crust.<\/p>\n Their analysis suggests the magma began crystallizing at shallower depths than many similar Martian meteorites, likely as it ascended through the crust. As it continued cooling, the magma became so chemically evolved that it formed minerals that were no longer stable under those conditions, leaving behind distinctive microscopic textures that preserve a record of the meteorite\u2019s volcanic history.<\/p>\n \u201cOur work showcases a far wider compositional range than we previously recognized for Mars and may represent a previously unsampled rock type from the Martian surface,\u201d said study co-author Natasha Stephen of the Geological Society of London and Imperial College London. \u201cNon-destructive analysis is especially important for rare meteorites because it allows us to learn as much as possible while preserving these extraordinary samples for future research.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond its scientific importance,\u00a0Stardust Mine\u00a0is historically significant. It is the first Martian meteorite to be unequivocally documented after being recovered on U.S. soil, with recorded coordinates and photographs taken before it was collected, providing scientists with an exceptionally well-documented specimen from discovery through laboratory analysis.<\/p>\n The work also highlights the role of the University of Minnesota\u2019s characterization expertise in planetary science. The meteorite was classified using instruments in the University\u2019s Characterization Facility, and the type specimen is permanently housed in the University of Minnesota Meteorite Collection & Repository, where it will remain available for future research.<\/p>\n That research is already underway. Small fragments of\u00a0Stardust Mine\u00a0have been distributed to collaborators around the world to investigate its isotopic composition, magnetic properties, weathering history and organic chemistry. Together, those studies will continue building a more complete picture of how Mars\u2019 interior evolved over time.<\/p>\n