• Type: Martian meteorite / Shergottite
• Location: Western Sahara
• Weight: 0.77g
• Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 1 mm
• Year of discovery: 2022
• Known total weight: 34.67 kg
• Surface treatment: cut, Polished slice
• Packaging: transparent plastic box (8.4 x 5.8 x 2.4 cm)
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Amgala 001 meteorite – Martian Shergottite from the Saguia el Hamra region Amgala 001 is a meteorite discovered in December 2022 in the Saguia el Hamra region, Western Sahara, near Meharrize. The total mass of the recovered fragments is approximately 35 kilograms, with the largest single fragment weighing 5.2 kilograms. Origin The Amgala 001 meteorite reached Earth after a powerful impact ejected rocks from Mars' surface into space. This process begins when an asteroid or comet strikes Mars with enough energy to cause a gigantic explosion. The impact creates a crater and releases energy that hurls rock fragments into space. These ejected fragments escape Martian gravity and travel through space as meteoroids. If their trajectory intersects Earth's orbit, they can be attracted by gravity and enter the atmosphere as meteors. If they survive atmospheric entry, they become meteorites. Characteristics Amgala 001 features a weathered brown surface with a nodular texture, while the interior is grey-green with darker olivine phenocrysts. It is characterized by a high degree of shock metamorphism and a low level of terrestrial alteration. The chemical and isotopic composition of the trapped gases is very similar to the Martian atmosphere, confirmed by measurements made during the Viking Program mission on Mars. Classification This meteorite is classified as a Shergottite, a type of Martian meteorite. Approximately three-quarters of all known Martian meteorites belong to this group. The name comes from the Shergotty meteorite, which fell in India in 1865. Shergottites are igneous rocks with mafic to ultramafic lithology. Mafic rocks are rich in magnesium and iron and contain dark minerals such as pyroxenes, olivine, and amphiboles. Their dark color comes from the high iron and magnesium content. Common examples include basalts and gabbros. Ultramafic rocks contain even more magnesium and iron and very little silica. They are extremely dark, almost black rocks, rich in olivine and pyroxene. Typical examples are peridotites and dunites. Both types of rock generally form in the mantle and lower crust of planets. The study of these rocks provides important information about the composition and internal processes of planets, including Mars. Age Shergottites crystallized approximately 180 million years ago. This relatively young age is surprising considering that much of Mars' surface appears much older. It is also unexpected due to Mars' small size, which would suggest faster cooling and an older crust. This discrepancy between predicted and measured age is known as the "shergottite age paradox." Some scientists believe that these meteorites may be much older than current dating methods can detect. This paradox remains an active topic of scientific research today.