Analysis of the Northwest Africa (NWA) 12593 Meteorite
June 19, 6:00 PM
Led by planetary scientist Carolyn Crow from the University of Colorado Boulder, a research team has determined that microscopic grains of baddeleyite within the Northwest Africa (NWA) 12593 meteorite were formed by an asteroid striking the Moon 3.486 billion years ago. Using uranium-lead dating, the team established the age of these samples, confirming that asteroid impacts continued well after the so-called Late Heavy Bombardment period. This timeframe is critical for understanding the bombardment history shared by Earth and the Moon.
The Northwest Africa (NWA) 12593 meteorite was discovered in Mali and later acquired in 2017. It is classified as a breccia and contains the zirconium-rich mineral baddeleyite. According to the researchers, baddeleyite forms only at temperatures exceeding 2,370 degrees Celsius, pointing to the extreme conditions present during its creation. Similar evidence of impacts and bombardments has also been found in Australia's Pilbara region, South Africa, and on the asteroid Vesta.
Significance of the Discovery
The findings were published in the journal Geology, underscoring their importance for reconstructing the shared history of Earth and the Moon, both of which preserve records of asteroid bombardment. This discovery deepens our understanding of the geological processes that shaped the early Solar System.
The study led by Carolyn Crow's team carries major implications for investigating the dynamics of the early Solar System and its influence on planetary formation. Discoveries like this one help scientists better grasp not only geological processes but also the evolution of celestial bodies such as Earth and the Moon. This research further highlights the value of meteorites as windows into past cosmic events.
In addition to the findings from the Northwest Africa (NWA) 12593 meteorite, recent research on a fragment from the Sahara has unveiled intriguing details about a vanished protoplanet. This discovery provides further context for understanding the scale and impact of early solar system events. To explore how this meteorite fragment contributes to our knowledge of planetary formation, read more about the insights gained from the Sahara meteorite.