While most meteorites have ages around 4.5 billion years, a small subset have ages around 1.3 billion years. What caused the substantial difference in age between these two populations of meteorites?
A) These meteorites just happened to form later than most meteorites.
B) Not all meteorites hit the Earth in the early Solar System. We should expect to find younger meteorites as more meteors pass through the atmosphere.
C) The younger meteorites were created when a protoplanet collided with Earth, creating the Moon. The leftover fragments became meteorites.
D) These meteorites were thrown into space after an impact with Mars and afterward some happened to collide with Earth.
E) The younger ones are the result of comets repeatedly passing close to the Sun, melting their surfaces and making them appear younger.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The younger meteorites are believed to have originated from Mars, ejected into space by impacts, and later collided with Earth.

While Most Meteorites Have Ages Around 4