This acrylic specimen preserves material from a type of Martian meteorite known as a “shergottite.” These meteorites are made of mafic rocks and are the most common types of Martian meteorites compared to nakhlites and chassignites. Together, these three make up the SNC group that most Martian meteorites fall under.

Most meteorites form in the asteroid belt, but early research on the SNC group showed them having a younger age and different composition than others, hinting at their true origin. With the chemical analysis of the surface and atmosphere of Mars with the Viking landers, it became clear that these meteorites came from the red planet.

When a strong impactor strikes the Martian surface, it can launch pieces of the ground into outer space. These Mars rocks then become new meteors that circle the Solar System, some later falling to Earth. Finds like these allow scientists to speculate on the composition of the Martian surface and atmosphere.

Made right here at Mini Museum, this handcrafted Martian Dust Storm specimen is made from authentic material from the NWA 7397 shergottite meteorite. The meteorite was discovered in 2012 in Northwest Africa. Like other shergottites, the meteorite's interior contains large olivine crystals.

The specimen ships in in an acrylic specimen jar with a removable top which arrives in a handsome, glass-topped riker box case measuring 4x3x1". It comes complete with a informational card that serves as statement of authenticity.

To many, the planet Mars represents the next step in human exploration. Though it is our closest planetary neighbor, the trip to the red planet is still a major undertaking. To go from Earth to Mars would take 127 million miles of travel in the cold of outer space. Despite the major distance though, geologic visitors have made their way to Earth in the form of meteorites.

The surface of Mars is subject to frequent and powerful meteorite impacts. With a smaller atmosphere than Earth, meteorites rain down with much less air resistance and strike the planet faster and more complete. These heavy impacts eject huge amounts of sediment and debris, some of which can fly out of Mars’ low gravity and enter an escape orbit. When this happens, the impact debris floats through space for millions of years with some pieces eventually being caught in Earth’s gravity and becoming meteorites of their own.

These meteorites are classified as a part of the SNC (shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite) group and had long been thought to have come from a planetoid. When the Viking lander sent back geologic data from the planet, this theory was confirmed.

With these Martian meteorites, scientists can learn much about the Red Planet's geologic history and the massive dust storms that can cover the planet. These storms were first confirmed to exist on November 13, 1971, when NASA spacecraft Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars, making history as the first spacecraft to reach another planet. What it found was a globe-spanning dust storm that completely shrouded the surface. It was the largest Martian dust storm ever observed, easily dwarfing even the biggest of Earth sandstorms, and delayed Mariner 9’s first clear satellite images for months.

As scientists would soon learn, these enshrouding storms are not particularly uncommon. Since Mars lacks free-flowing surface water, dust tends to settle in loose particles rather than heavier clumps. These particles are exceptionally easy for winds to pick up and disperse.

During the spring and summer of Mars, increased temperatures from sun exposure prevent the formation of clouds, which further aids the formation of dust storms. In a given Martian year, it is estimated that there is a 1-in-3 chance for a planet-wide storm to occur.

Despite this immense reach, a Martian dust storm is not as violent as we might imagine. The low atmospheric pressure limits wind speeds to around 60 mph, which is less than an Earth hurricane.

Due to the low moisture content on the surface, this is all it takes for dust to rise and limit visibility for hundreds of thousands of miles. Additionally, since Mars has no oceans to serve as dust sinks, dust particles have been accumulating on the surface for millions of years, providing endless material for storms to whip up.

Understanding how and why these storms occur is important for future exploration of Mars. They are a nuisance for orbiters and have posed a serious threat to the scientific instruments on the surface.

Sunlight is unable to fully penetrate dust storms, meaning rovers that rely on solar power must hibernate during these periods. Dust can also clog motors and cover cameras, making movement difficult after a storm. In 2018, NASA’s Opportunity rover went offline during a storm that may have blanketed it with dust. Future missions to Mars will have to contend with these massive storms, but for now much of what we know of them is limited to the Martian meteorites that have fallen to Earth.