With reference to the Teghaza 001 meteorite, consider the following statements: 1. The meteorite was discovered in the Sahara Desert. 2. It is approximately 4.1 billion years old. 3. It provides a record of interactions between Martian crust materials and an ancient hydrosphere. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Teghaza 001 meteorite reveals unique record of early water-rock exchanges on Mars

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Space technology (ISRO, missions)· Prelims· 3 November 2026

Astrobiology and planetary geology: key for GS3 science and technology analysis of Martian history.

Why in news

NASA scientists announced that the Teghaza 001 meteorite, found in the Sahara Desert, provides a unique record of early water-rock exchanges on Mars.

Background

The Teghaza 001 meteorite is a 4.1 billion-year-old fragment containing chemical traces of interactions between Martian crust materials and an ancient hydrosphere. The findings were published in the journals Science and Science Advances.

Facts for Prelims

S&TTeghaza 001: A meteorite fragment found in the Sahara Desert.
FactThe Teghaza 001 meteorite is approximately 4.1 billion years old.
S&TThe meteorite contains chemical traces of interactions between Martian crust materials and an ancient hydrosphere.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Teghaza 001 meteorite, consider the following statements:

The meteorite was discovered in the Sahara Desert.
It is approximately 4.1 billion years old.
It provides a record of interactions between Martian crust materials and an ancient hydrosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)2 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3 — Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

For Mains

Q. Discuss how the study of meteorites and planetary geology contributes to our understanding of the evolution of the solar system and the history of water on Mars.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Geochemical analysis: Identifying chemical signatures of ancient hydrospheres in Martian crustal materials
Astrobiology implications: Determining the timeline of water-rock interactions for potential past habitability

Keywords: Astrobiology · Planetary Geology · Hydrosphere · Meteoritic Analysis · Mars Exploration

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