description NWA 7034 Overview
NWA 7034, nicknamed "Black Beauty," is a Martian meteorite discovered in Northwest Africa and announced to science in the early 2010s. It is a basaltic regolith breccia composed of rock fragments from different periods of Martian history, with some mineral grains dating to about 4.4 billion years ago. Its unusual chemistry, water content, and mixed components make it an important sample for studying the ancient Martian crust and surface environment.
insights Ranking position
NWA 7034 ranks #1 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, ahead of Allende.
help NWA 7034 FAQ
Why is NWA 7034 called Black Beauty?
The nickname refers to the meteorite's dark, glossy appearance. Its formal name, Northwest Africa 7034, records the broad region where it entered the meteorite classification system.
How is Black Beauty different from most Martian meteorites?
NWA 7034 is a breccia made from many fragments of ancient Martian crust rather than a single uniform igneous rock. It also contains substantially more water than many better-known Martian meteorite groups.
Why is NWA 7034 important for studying early Mars?
Some components preserve crustal material approximately 4.4 billion years old. That makes Black Beauty a rare laboratory sample from Mars's earliest geological history.
How do researchers know NWA 7034 is from Mars?
Its oxygen-isotope chemistry, mineralogy, and noble gases connect it with Mars and known Martian meteorites. Scientists compare those signatures with measurements of Martian rocks and atmosphere.
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