shergottite

Shergottite is a type of Martian meteorite, named after the Shergotty meteorite, which fell in India in 1865. Shergottites are basaltic rocks that are believed to have originated from Mars. They are part of the SNC (Shergottite-Nakhlite-Chassignite) group of meteorites, which are thought to have been ejected from Mars by impact events and subsequently traveled through space before landing on Earth.

Shergottites are characterized by their fine-grained texture and high concentrations of olivine and pyroxene, which are minerals commonly found in basaltic rocks. They also contain small amounts of other minerals, such as ilmenite and magnetite. Shergottites are further classified into three subtypes based on their mineralogy and texture: olivine-phyric, lherzolitic, and basaltic.

The age of Shergottites is estimated to be around 165 million years, which is much younger than the age of the Martian crust. This suggests that they were formed from magma that was generated by the partial melting of the Martian mantle. Shergottites are of particular interest to scientists because they provide valuable information about the geological history of Mars and the processes that have shaped its surface.

Shergottites are also notable for their potential to contain evidence of past life on Mars. Some Shergottites have been found to contain organic compounds and other potential biosignatures, although the origin of these compounds is still debated. The study of Shergottites continues to be an active area of research in planetary science.