Martian Dust Storm Meteorite

Martian Dust Storm NWA 7397 Meteorite Specimen

Accession Number: 2026-MAR-MT-01
Object Type: Extraterrestrial material (Martian meteorite)
Date: Crystallized millions to billions of years ago (Mars)
Origin: Fragments ejected from Mars and landed on Earth
Material: Igneous rock with Martian geochemical signature
Dimensions: Small fragment; varies by specimen
Provenance: Recognized as Martian in origin (NWA 7397); authenticated and curated
Acquisition: Mini Museum
Collection Status: Permanent Collection

What This Artifact Represents

This rock began its story on Mars — a world shaped by ancient rivers, volcanic flows, and dust storms that sweep across its red surface. Unlike lunar meteorites, Martian meteorites are identified not just by mineralogy, but by trapped gases whose composition exactly matches that measured in the Martian atmosphere by spacecraft.

Meteorites like this one were likely blasted off Mars by a large impact event and drifted through space before falling to Earth. Containing chemical and isotopic signatures unique to Mars, they serve as direct samples of another planet without requiring human or robotic retrieval.

About This Specific Piece

This specimen belongs to the meteorite classification NWA 7397, indicating its provenance from the North West Africa region where it was found and eventually recognized as Martian in origin.

Martian meteorites are among the rarest and most scientifically informative extraterrestrial rocks. They allow researchers to study Mars’ volcanic history, surface alteration processes, and even ancient climatic conditions.

Unlike terrestrial rocks, Martian meteorites bear no signs of Earth-bound weathering prior to their arrival here. Their composition — including specific oxygen isotope ratios and trapped noble gases — confirms their origin and offers material evidence of planetary processes on Mars.

Interpretive Note

Displayed alongside Lunar Highlands Meteorite (Accession No. 2026-LUN-MT-01), this specimen widens the narrative from the Moon to Mars, creating a compelling planetary comparison:

• Moon fragments tell us about geologic stability and early crustal evolution.

• Mars fragments speak to dynamic surface processes and a world that once had liquid water and atmospheres.

Together, these specimens invite reflection on the variety of planetary environments in our own solar neighborhood and allow us to hold pieces of worlds we can only explore by proxy.