A Strange Martian Rock Reveals a Mineral Scientists Never Expected

A tiny fragment inside a meteorite has exposed a type of rock scientists had never previously recognised from Mars. Its chemistry appeared unusual during an examination at the Royal Ontario Museum, prompting researchers to look beyond their original explanation.

The result could expand what is known about the heat, pressure and fluid activity that shaped the Martian crust. However, one crucial uncertainty remains: the mysterious fragment may have formed on Mars—or arrived there from somewhere else in the Solar System.