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KSAR GHILANE 022 METEORITES - POSSIBLY FROM PHOBOS FOR SALE
Ksar Ghilane 002, discovered in Tatawin, Tunisia, in 2023, is a remarkable meteorite with a granite-like appearance and a highly unusual composition among achondrites. It consists of magnesium-rich clinopyroxenite embedded with distinctive sulphite spheres. Initially, there was debate over its meteoritic origin until individual stones, including the 25 kg main mass, were found with unmistakable fusion crusts. In total, 50 kg of material was recovered from this fall.
What truly sets KG 002 apart is its potential origin: recent analyses of its mineral composition suggest it may have come from Phobos, Mars' largest moon. If confirmed, this would be the first known meteorite from Phobos, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the moon’s makeup and shedding new light on the Martian system. This groundbreaking discovery could redefine our understanding of planetary material exchange within our solar system. A detailed scientific paper outlining these findings is expected to be presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March 2025, marking a potential milestone in planetary science.
What truly sets KG 002 apart is its potential origin: recent analyses of its mineral composition suggest it may have come from Phobos, Mars' largest moon. If confirmed, this would be the first known meteorite from Phobos, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the moon’s makeup and shedding new light on the Martian system. This groundbreaking discovery could redefine our understanding of planetary material exchange within our solar system. A detailed scientific paper outlining these findings is expected to be presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March 2025, marking a potential milestone in planetary science.
About Phobos
Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, is an irregularly shaped, heavily cratered celestial body measuring about 27 kilometers (17 miles) across at its widest point. Its surface is dominated by grooves, ridges, and deep impact craters, the most notable being Stickney Crater, a massive depression nearly 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) wide that significantly influences the moon’s structural features.
A photo of Phobos taken by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2008. Large asteroid impacts that could have ejected Ksar Ghilane 002 can be seen.
Geologically, Phobos is believed to be a captured asteroid, possibly a carbonaceous (C-type) body rich in dark, primitive materials. Its surface is covered with a thick layer of regolith—loose, dusty debris generated by constant micrometeorite impacts. The moon’s density suggests it is porous, with a composition of rock and ice, and possibly a rubble-pile structure held together by weak gravity.
Linear grooves crisscross Phobos, stretching across its surface in patterns that may result from stress fractures caused by the Stickney impact, tidal forces from Mars, or ejecta from impacts on Mars itself. These grooves and the moon's low reflectivity hint at a complex history shaped by both external bombardment and internal structural stresses. As Phobos slowly spirals inward toward Mars, its geological story continues to evolve, offering clues about the dynamic processes of the Martian system.
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