Chengdu, China – July 17 ,2025 

A newly analyzed Martian meteorite, dubbed Northwest Africa (NWA) 16254, is providing scientists with unprecedented insights into the Red Planet’s deep interior and ancient volcanic history. This rare specimen, a gabbroic shergottite, offers a unique window into processes that shaped Mars billions of years ago, challenging existing models of its magmatic evolution.

The groundbreaking research, led by Dr. Jun-Feng Chen of the Chengdu University of Technology’s Research Center for Planetary Science, was initially reported on July 14th and has since captured the attention of the planetary science community.

A Two-Stage Crystallization Story

Scientists studying NWA 16254 through advanced imaging and geochemical tools discovered that the meteorite crystallized in a fascinating two-stage process. Its journey began deep beneath the Martian surface, where it solidified under high-pressure conditions (between 4.3 and 9.3 kilobars). Here, magnesium-rich pyroxene crystals, indicative of early growth, took shape.

As the molten material ascended to shallower crustal depths (less than 4 kilobars), it cooled more slowly. This prolonged cooling allowed for the formation of iron-rich pyroxene rims and plagioclase, preserving a coarse-grained texture within the meteorite. This texture provides compelling evidence of repeated melt extraction from a long-lived, geochemically depleted mantle source.

“This specimen stands out as the first of its kind to show significant geochemical depletion, hinting at a shared magma source with the rare QUE 94201 meteorite,” stated a representative from the research team.

Clues to Mars’ Enduring Internal Conditions

One of the most intriguing aspects of NWA 16254 is its consistently low oxygen fugacity (fO2), implying that sustained “reducing conditions” prevailed during its crystallization. This challenges some existing models of Martian volcanic evolution, suggesting that parts of Mars’ mantle may have remained chemically reduced for billions of years.

The coarse texture of the meteorite indicates that it didn’t erupt as typical lava flows but instead solidified within magma chambers deep within the Martian crust. Such findings are crucial for reconstructing the planet’s magmatic evolution and understanding how its mantle and crust have interacted over vast stretches of time.

The Power of Martian Meteorites

Martian meteorites are invaluable to scientists, as they represent the only physical samples of Mars available for direct study on Earth. Chunks of the Red Planet are ejected into space by powerful asteroid or comet impacts and, over millions or even billions of years, some eventually cross Earth’s orbit and fall to our surface.

“These meteorites are allowing us to conduct geologic science on the surface of Mars, and we haven’t even been there yet,” commented a planetary geologist not involved in the study, highlighting the immense value of such discoveries.

Future geochronological studies on NWA 16254 could further refine its age, potentially resolving whether it represents ancient mantle melting from approximately 2.4 billion years ago or younger magmatic activity. Such precise dating would offer vital clues to Mars’ thermal history and how its internal processes have changed over its long geological lifespan.

The well-preserved geochemical signatures within NWA 16254 make it a prime target for isotopic analyses, promising to unlock timelines of Martian mantle depletion and refine models of planetary differentiation, bringing us closer to a full understanding of the Red Planet’s enigmatic past.