Since the noble gas analyses by Viking in 1976 we have had the information to recognise meteorites from Mars (now about 60). My favourite martian meteorites are the nakhlites. These are named after Nakhla which fell near Alexandra in 1911. It contains a mineralogical record of water on Mars which will only be surpassed by Mars Science Laboratory! This type of information helps inform our studies on Mars.
The image shows a vein with carbonate and clay deposited by heated water (about 150-200oC) after an impact on Mars near the nakhlite parent rocks. A subsequent nearby impact about 11 million years ago ejected the nakhlite from Mars, and onto a trajectory which crossed Earth.
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