Mars Landed In Earth And Left: Ksar Ghilane (KG) 002

Zoom In On The 100th Registered Martian Meteorite Fragment

Captured from a video by David Allepuz: 2010 - Ksar Ghilane 002 (KG002) Shergottite - Martian Meteorite

Luckily enough, this meteorite represents the 100th registered fragment originating from Mars, excluding paired stones, and marks the first discovery of its kind in Tunisia.

The Sahara Desert has emerged as a significant source of Martian meteorite recovery, contributing nearly half of the entire collection (101 total; The Meteoritical Bulletin Database as of December 2011). Over the first decade of our millennia, 50 new fragments have been recovered, with 35 of them found in the Sahara. These recent discoveries offer valuable opportunities to enhance our understanding of Martian meteorites.

Ksar Ghilane 002 was recovered on January 13, 2010, by José Vicente Casado and David Allepuz in the Ksar Ghilane dense collection area (KG) at coordinates 32°48.375′ N and 009°49.970′ E. The discovery site is situated on the Saharan platform, atop Senonian limestone.

This meteorite is a singular stone weighing 538 grams, measuring approximately 10 × 4.5 × 3.5 cm. The surface of KG 002 exhibits signs of desert weathering, notably sand abrasion, which has led to the erosion of much of the fusion crust. Upon visual examination, KG 002 is characterized by light green pyroxene crystals, abundant maskelynite, and sparse opaque oxides as depicted by the photography below.