Fact sheet
Meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 6963 is a gabbroic rock classified as a basaltic shergottite. NWA 6963 contains clinopyroxene and maskelynite grains up to 5 mm in length, with minor ferroan olivine, spinel, ilmenite, merrillite, apatite, Fe-sulphides and high-Si glass. NWA 6963 also contains areas of quartz and alkali-feldspar intergrowths up to ~1 mm in size.
Filiberto, J., Gross, J., Trela, J., Ferré, E.C., 2014. Gabbroic Shergottite Northwest Africa 6963: An intrusive sample of Mars. American Mineralogist 99, 601-606.
This collection of meteorites includes Shergottites, Nakhlites and Chassignites (or SNC meteorites) which originate from the surface of the planet Mars.
They carry unique signals of the surface of the planet that allows scientists to study the composition and age of Martian rocks. The collection includes a sample of the famous ALH84001 meteorite, evidence from which was used in 1996 to begin the debate of 'life on Mars?'.