This alteration creates a crust that complicates the determination of the original mineralogical composition of the meteorite. Removing this outer layer is essential, but as this study highlights, it is not always a straightforward process. The team used Raman spectroscopy, a technique commonly employed to study the chemical composition of objects, to identify various contaminants. Among these were copper compounds, synthetic organic molecules used in inks for ballpoint pens and gel pens, and blue polyester, likely from textiles. These contaminants raise a crucial question: how much of the Martian rock’s natural composition is truly represented in these samples? The presence of such human-made materials suggests that, despite rigorous efforts to prevent contamination, these meteorites are far from untouched by Earthly influence.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 