Scientists Determine Exactly Where Mars Rocks Found On Earth Originated

Scientist have been studying rocks from Mars for a number of years that mankind didn't pick up from the Martian surface and bring back to Earth on any of the many scientific missions to the red planet. The Mars rocks that have been studied intently originated on Mars, but were blowing off the surface of the planet by a massive asteroid or comet impact millions of years ago.

The chunks of Mars rock eventually traveled all the way to Earth where they were found by scientists. Researchers have competed a study recently that they believe pinpoints exactly where on the Martian surface these Mars rocks found on Earth came from.

The Mars rocks found on Earth are known as "shergottites." The study findings need to be confirmed. These rocks are believed to have come from a large impact basin on Mars known as the Mojave Crater in the equatorial region of Mars.

That crater is 34-miles wide and is a good chemical match for the shergottites. This type of meteor makes up 75% of the approximately 150 Mars meteorites that have been found on Earth so far. Some think the study is very speculative. Some believe that the shergottites are much younger than the crater the study believes they came from.

SOURCE: Reuters