Mercury is one of the least studied planets in the Solar System by NASA. However, the meteorites Meteorite NWA 15915 and Meteorite Ksar Ghilane 022, recovered from the Sahara desert in North Africa, in 2023. Only 2 expeditions have been made to this planet: the first in the 1970s, the Mariner 10, and the second between 2004 and 2015, the so-called MESSENGER. According to the magazine Icarus, the samples obtained reflect planetary geological characteristics that are uncommon in the rest of the known bodies.
According to RealClearScience, the discovery of these new geological remains could shed light on the materials present on the planet Mercury. Coast to Coast AM stated that this discovery could also shed light on the origin of the formation of earlier planets in the solar system, which so far is unknown. We will have to wait until 2026, when the last BepiColombo mission is expected to return to Earth with more information and data.
Planet Mercury
Mercury is a rocky planet with a surface full of craters, and known for being the closest planet to the Sun. It is the smallest planet in the solar system and has extreme temperatures, ranging from -180ºC to 430ºC, (great for going to the beach). Despite the many studies and missions carried out by NASA, the planet Mercury is one of the least known and least focused on. In fact, only two missions have been carried out to the planet: the first one in the 70’s, Mariner 10, and MESSENGER between 2004-2015.
Meteorites in the Sahara Desert
In 2023, two meteorites were found in the Sahara Desert, in North Africa, which, after their study, are believed to come from Mercury. They are NWA 15915 and Ksar Ghilane 022, which have revealed information of great value and interest to the scientific community. Icarus Magazine published information on their geochemical composition and mineral structure, which does not coincide with the rest of the celestial bodies known so far.
Mercury composition, why is it special?
The analyses carried out on the remains of the meteorites found have yielded a great deal of information that has caught the attention of researchers. According to experts, they could be debris torn from Mercury’s crust after an impact, which traveled through space until it reached the Sahara. So far, Mercury’s surface has been shown to be composed of iron and a high magnesium content, and that is exactly what has been found in the meteorite debris. In addition, they have a low content of volatile compounds, which gives even more weight to the theory that they come from Mercury.
What does this advance mean?
The presence and discovery of these materials gives researchers the possibility to study more directly the geology of this barely investigated planet. RealClearScience stated that, to date, there has been no confirmation of any rock from Mercury -unlike the substantial samples from the Moon or Mars-, so the arrival of these meteorites could mean a before and after in the investigation of this planet.
As if this were not enough, Coast to Coast AM stated that it is not only about the possible information that can be obtained from the planet, but that these materials could shed light on the origin of the formation of the inner planets of the solar system, helping to better understand how the proximity to the Sun influences them in terms of geological evolution.
The most recent mission
A mission to Mercury is currently underway: the Bepi Colombo mission. Jointly, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency sent two satellites to the planet: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. They are expected to return in 2026, when more data and information will be available to expand our knowledge of Mercury.
