Shergottite

Shergottites are rare meteorites, divided into two main sub-groups: basaltic and lherzolitic, which are thought to be Martian, and were probably torn away at speeds greater than the Mars escape velocity (5.0km/s) near volcanic terrain following an impact.

They are named after the Shergotty meteorite which fell near the Indian village of Shergotty in 1865. They are very young rocks (150 to 200 million years) which often show intense traces of shock metamorphism.

A Shergottite from Morocco (Photo © Bruno Fectay & Carine Bidaut).