These meteorites are a form of Martian meteorite known as a “shergottite.” They are differentiated by being made of mafic rocks and are the most common types of Martian meteorites compared to nakhlites and chassignites. Together, these three types make up the SNC group that most Martian meteorites fall under.

Early research on the SNC group showed them having a younger age and different composition than most other meteorites. With the chemical analysis of the surface and atmosphere of Mars with the Viking landers, it became clear that these meteorites originated from our red neighbor.

When a strong impactor strikes the Martian surface, it can sometimes 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 bring direct evidence of the raging dust storms that entomb the planet.

NWA 7397 is a lherzolitic shergottite, identifiable from the presence of olivine and pigeonite, a large crystal formation associated with volcanic activity. Lherzolites like this allow for some speculation into Mars's volcanic history. It was discovered in Northwest Africa in 2012.

NWA 4930 is a shergottite meteorite discovered in 2007. It fell in Algeria with a total mass of 117.5 grams

Dhofar 019 is a basaltic shergottite, identifiable from its large grains of olivine, surrounded by a matrix composed of the silicate pyroxene and maskelynite, an obsidian-like glass formed during impact. It was discovered in Oman in 2000.

Each specimen arrives in a gem jar inside a display box and comes complete with a certificate of authenticity. You can explore more meteorites from the Red Planet below!

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.

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.