Martian meteorite

Martian meteorite (SNC meteorites)
— Clan —
Martian meteorite EETA79001, shergottite
Type	Achondrite
Subgroups	Shergottite Nakhlite Chassignite Orthopyroxenite Basaltic Breccia
Parent body	Mars
Total known specimens	277 as of 15 September 2020[update][1]
Martian meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed "Black Beauty," weighs approximately 320 g (11 oz).[2]

A Martian meteorite is a rock that formed on Mars, was ejected from the planet by an impact event, and traversed interplanetary space before landing on Earth as a meteorite. As of September 2020^[update], 277 meteorites had been classified as Martian, less than half a percent of the 72,000 meteorites that have been classified.^[1] The largest complete, uncut Martian meteorite, Taoudenni 002,^[3] was recovered in Mali in early 2021. It weighs 14.5 kilograms (32 pounds) and is on display at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum.

There are three groups of Martian meteorite: shergottites, nakhlites and chassignites, collectively known as SNC meteorites. Several other Martian meteorites are ungrouped. These meteorites are interpreted as Martian because they have elemental and isotopic compositions that are similar to rocks and atmospheric gases on Mars, which have been measured by orbiting spacecraft, surface landers and rovers.^[4][5] The term does not include meteorites found on Mars, such as Heat Shield Rock.