Analysis of the Martian meteorite. Left, artistic impression where the asteroid collided with the surface of Mars 5-10Ma ago, ejecting Black Beauty and teleporting to Earth (white outline). On the right, the data set and the methods used to find meteor ejections. Credit: Anthony Lagen, Curtin University
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New research led by Curtin has pinpointed the precise location of Mars’ oldest and best-known meteorite for the first time, providing important geological clues to Mars’ early origins.
Using an interdisciplinary approach that includes machine learning algorithms, new research – published today in Nature Communication-Identified the specific crater on Mars that ejected the so-called Black Beauty meteorite, which weighed 320 grams, and the twin rock, which was first reported to have been found in North Africa in 2011.
Researchers named the Martian crater after the town of Pilbara in Karatha, which lies more than 1,500 kilometers north of Perth in Western Australia, and is home to one of the oldest rocks on Earth.
Lead author Dr. Anthony Lagen, of the Curtin Center for Space Science and Technology in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the exciting discovery provides details of the previously unknown Mars meteorite NWA 7034, known as ‘Black Beauty’, which has been studied extensively around the world. . Black Beauty is the only perfect Martian specimen available on Earth, meaning it contains angular fragments of several related rock types that differ from all other Martian meteorites that have a single rock type.
“For the first time, we know the geological context of the only Martian sample available on Earth, 10 years before NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission was set to send back samples collected by rover currently exploring the Jezero crater,” said Dr. said Lagain.
“Finding the region of origin of the Black Beauty meteorite is very important because it contains the oldest Martian fragments ever found, dating back 4.48 billion years, and showing similarities to the very ancient Martian crust, which is about 4.53 billion years old. , and continents. Earth today. The region we identified as the source of this unique Martian meteorite sample is a real window into the planet’s early environment, including Earth, where our planet was lost to plate tectonics and erosion.”
The discovery was made thanks to a self-developed algorithm at Curtin by a multidisciplinary group that includes members of the Curtin Institute of Computing and the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, as well as CSIRO and the Australian Space Data Analysis Facility, with funding from the Australian Research Council.
<div data-thumb="https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/tmb/2022/source-of-ancient-mart.jpg" data-src="https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2022/source-of-ancient-mart.jpg" data-sub-html="The distribution of 90 million craters on the surface of Mars obtained from the Crater Detection Algorithm. Colors indicate crater size and their intensities are linked to the crater density on the surface. Blue spots and rayed patterns are associated with the youngest and largest craters formed on the surface. The red circle pinpoint the Karratha crater that has ejected the Black Beauty meteorite. Credit: Lagain et al. 2022, Nature Communications.”>
The distribution of 90 million craters on Mars is obtained from the crater detection algorithm. The color indicates the size of the hole and its intensity is related to the density of the hole on the surface. The blue spots and light patterns are associated with the newest and largest craters that have formed on the surface. The red circle identifies the Karratha crater that ejected the Black Beauty meteorite. Credit: Lagain et al. 2022, Nature Communication.
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Using one of the fastest supercomputers in the southern hemisphere at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Center, Curtin HIVE (Centre for Immersive Visualization and Electronic Research), the researchers analyzed an enormous volume of high-resolution images of the planet via machine learning algorithms to detect the impact. drilling.
Co-author Professor Gretchen Benedix, of the Curtin Center for Space Science and Technology in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the research paved the way for discovering the ejection of other Martian meteorites, in order to create a more comprehensive view of Mars. meteorite. red planet geological history.
Black beauty meteorite. credit: NASA
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“We also adapted the algorithm used to determine the ejection point of Black Beauty from Mars to reveal other secrets of the Moon and Mercury,” said Professor Bendix.
“This will help unravel their geological history and answer burning questions that will aid future solar system investigations such as the Artemis program to send humans to the moon by the end of this decade or the BepiColombo mission, in orbit around Mercury in 2025.”
Karratha Crater on Mars. Karatha Crater is in the middle, inside Dampier Crater. Credit: NASA MRO
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The research also involved experts from the University of Paris-Saclay, the Paris Observatory, the National Museum of Natural History, the French National Center for Scientific Research, Félix Houphouet-Boigny University in Ivory Coast, University of Northern Arizona and Rutgers University. in the United States. from America.
Full paper, “Early cortical processes revealed by oldest Martian expulsion site meteor“from Nature Communication.
Study identifies potential habitat for Martian meteorites
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Anthony Lagen, Early cortical processes revealed by site of oldest Martian meteorite expulsion site, Nature Communication (2022). DOI: 10.1038 / s41467-022-31444-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31444-8–
Introduction
Curtin University
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quote: Machine learning identifies crater that ejects famous Martian rock (2022, 12 July) Accessed 12 July 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-07-machine-crater-ejected-famous-martian.html
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