Researchers Study Possible Mercury Meteorites Found in Sahara, Debate Continues

Researchers are exploring the possibility that two meteorites discovered in the Sahara Desert may be fragments from Mercury — potentially the first confirmed samples from the solar system’s innermost planet.

The meteorites, named Northwest Africa 15915 (NWA 15915) and Ksar Ghilane 022 (KG 022), were found in 2023 and analyzed by Ben Rider-Stokes, a postdoctoral researcher at the UK’s Open University. His study, published in the journal Icarus, highlights key chemical similarities between the rocks and Mercury’s surface, such as the presence of olivine and pyroxene and a complete lack of iron.

However, Rider-Stokes and other scientists acknowledge doubts remain. One major inconsistency is the age of the meteorites, estimated at 4.5 billion years — about 500 million years older than Mercury’s surface, according to current data from NASA’s MESSENGER mission.

“This doesn’t mean these samples aren’t good analogs for parts of Mercury,” Rider-Stokes explained. “But until we return material from Mercury or visit the surface, it will be very difficult to confidently prove or disprove a Mercurian origin for these samples.”

Sean Solomon, who led NASA’s MESSENGER mission, expressed skepticism about the Mercury connection, though he acknowledged the meteorites share notable chemical traits with Mercury’s surface materials.

The debate reflects broader challenges in planetary science. Mercury is difficult to study due to its proximity to the sun, and no mission has yet returned physical samples from its surface. The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission is expected to reach Mercury in late 2026, potentially offering new insights.

For now, researchers like Rider-Stokes plan to continue discussions within the scientific community. He’ll present his findings this week at the Meteoritical Society’s annual meeting in Perth, where the debate over the meteorites’ origins is expected to continue.

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