2006NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)Open access

Martian Meteorite Ages and Implications for Martian Cratering History

L. E. Nyquist

Open full text 2 citations

Abstract

New radiometrically determined ages of Martian meteorites add to the growing number with crystallization ages <~ 1.4 Ga. The observation of mainly geologically young ages for the Martian meteorites, the only exception being the ~4.5 Ga ALH84001 [1], is paradoxical when viewed in context of a Martian surface thought to be mostly much older as inferred from the surface density of meteorite craters [2]. There appears to be at least a twofold difference between the observed ages of Martian meteorites and their expected ages as inferred from the ages of Martian surfaces obtained from crater densities.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

New radiometrically determined ages of Martian meteorites add to the growing number with crystallization ages <~ 1.4 Ga. The observation of mainly geologically young ages for the Martian meteorites, the only exception being the ~4.5 Ga ALH84001 [1], is paradoxical when viewed in context of a Martian surface thought to be mostly much older as inferred from the surface density of meteorite craters [2]. There appears to be at least a twofold difference between the observed ages of Martian meteorites and their expected ages as inferred from the ages of Martian surfaces obtained from crater densities.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 2 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

New radiometrically determined ages of Martian meteorites add to the growing number with crystallization ages <~ 1.4 Ga. The observation of mainly geologically young ages for the Martian meteorites, the only exception being the ~4.5 Ga ALH84001 [1], is paradoxical when viewed in context of a Martian surface thought to be mostly much older as inferred from the surface density of meteorite craters [2]. There appears to be at least a twofold difference between the observed ages of Martian meteorites and their expected ages as inferred from the ages of Martian surfaces obtained from crater densities.

Key concepts: Meteorite, Martian, Astrobiology, Impact crater, Geology, Martian surface, Context (archaeology), Mars Exploration Program

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Martian Meteorite Ages and Implications for Martian Cratering History — Research Paper | ScholarLens