Mars’s rock traded 10 times price of gold

Rocks found in Morocco have been confirmed to have come from Mars. A rare chunk of rock is worth 10 times the price of gold.

A special committee of space experts, including some NASA scientists, said that this is one of meteorites from Mars which rained down in North Africa last July.

Witnesses said small rocks struck Earth in a fireball, but they were not discovered on the ground until December where collectors gathered 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of meteorites, with the biggest rock weighing around 2 pounds (1 kilogram)

Scientists and meteorite collectors are thrilled over the news. Even before official certification, museums and universities scrambled to purchase them at a range of $11,000 to $22,500 per ounce, about 10 times the price of gold.

The discovery is a unique opportunity for scientists trying to learn about Mars' potential for life. So far, no NASA or Russian spacecraft has returned bits of Mars.

Most samples from the neighboring planet have been here on Earth for millions of years, contaminated with materials and life. However, the new rocks that fell last summer will be likely to offer a much purer sample for scientists in studying the Red Planet.