Mars-Meteorit, Tarkint 001. (Olivine-phyric Shergottit). - 0.4 g

Tarkint 001 17.4959263, 0.6428554
Gao, Mali
Fund: 2025

Classification: Martian meteorite (Shergottite)

History: In 2025, fragments of a meteorite were discovered in a desert area 60 km east of the village of Tarkint and approximately 150 km northeast of the city of Gao, Mali. The discovery occurred by chance during a local field survey, where the distinctive surface features of the stones drew the attention of the field researchers. Purchased by Ali Muftah in 2025.

Physical characteristics: Die insgesamt gesammelte Masse betrug ca. 2 kg. Die Lagerproben weisen eine äußere Oberfläche teilweise bedeckt mit dunkler, leicht abgeriebener Verschmelzungsrinde auf. Sawcut surface reveals many distinctive mm-sized brown-green olivine phenocrysts set in light tan-colored, fine-grained groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Electron microprobe analysis of a polished mount shows this meteorite to be an olivine-phyric shergottite. Olivine phenocrysts display core-rim igneous zoning. Plagioclase has been converted to maskelynite. Fine-grained pigeonite and maskelynite make up the groundmass. Minor amounts of chromite, Ti-magnetite, and troilite are ubiquitous.

Geochemistry: (T. Shisseh, UNM) Olivine Fa32.6±12.1, Fe/Mn=53±4, n=13; pigeonite Fs23.3±3.2Wo4.9±2.2, Fe/Mn=30±1, n=17; maskelynite An54.9±3.5Ab44.7±3.5, n=4.

Classification: Martian, olivine-phyric shergottite. Visually, the macroscopic texture of this meteorite is reminiscent of NWA 10416, however they are not paired. This meteorite lacks augite and altered olivine, it also has maskelynite-only, with no remnant plagioclase present. This meteorite has olivine that is significantly more forsteritic than NWA 10416.

Shock stage:\thigh.
Weathering grade:\tlow.
Classifier: C. Agee.

This lot comes with certificate of authenticity.
Thanks for your interest.