Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Search FormMinerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Nakhla Martian meteorite, Nakhla, Abu Hommos, Beheira Governorate, Egypti
Regional Level Types
Nakhla Martian meteoriteMeteorite Fall Location
Nakhla- not defined -
Abu HommosMunicipality
Beheira GovernorateGovernorate
EgyptCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 8' 59'' North , 30° 21' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Meteorite Class:
Meteoritical Society Class:
Origin locality:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Damanhūr227,943 (2014)17.1km
Idkū210,678 (2018)18.2km
Fuwwah63,310 (2015)19.8km
Kafr ad Dawwār267,370 (2015)21.0km
Ḩawsh ‘Īsá85,352 (2018)27.0km
Mindat Locality ID:
29685
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:29685:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Recorded fall in 1911. Has given its name to the Nakhlites (diopside-olivine class of Ca-rich achondrites). The meteorite is also the first one to suggest signs of aqueous processes on Mars, because it contains carbonates and hydrous minerals, formed by chemical reactions in water. Also, the rock was exposed to water after it formed, which caused secondary accumulations of minerals. The carbonates contain more 13C than rocks formed on Earth, indicating Martian origin.

On the time of the fall, several explosions were heard before fragments fell to Earth in an area of 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) in diameter, and about forty pieces were recovered. the fragments were buried in the ground up to a metre deep. From an estimated original weight of 10 kilograms (22 lb), recovered fragments ranged in weight from 20 grams (0.71 oz) to 1813 grams (64.0 oz).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


23 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
References:
ⓘ Berthierine
Formula: (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chlorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3Cl
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ Fayalite
Formula: Fe2+2SiO4
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
References:
ⓘ Ferrihydrite
Formula: Fe3+10O14(OH)2
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ 'Iddingsite'
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Jarosite ?
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Opal
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Opal var. Opal-A
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Pigeonite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Saponite
Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
ⓘ 'Smectite Group'
Formula: A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
ⓘ Troilite
Formula: FeS

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘTroilite2.CC.10FeS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘOpal4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘvar. Opal-A4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘFerrihydrite4.FE.35Fe3+10O14(OH)2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
ⓘJarosite ?7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘChlorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘFayalite9.AC.05Fe2+2SiO4
ⓘPigeonite9.DA.10(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘSaponite9.EC.45Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘBerthierine9.ED.15(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Iddingsite'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Smectite Group'-A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Hⓘ FerrihydriteFe103+O14(OH)2
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Hⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Hⓘ Opal var. Opal-ASiO2 · nH2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ FayaliteFe22+SiO4
Oⓘ FerrihydriteFe103+O14(OH)2
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Oⓘ Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Oⓘ Opal var. Opal-ASiO2 · nH2O
FFluorine
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Alⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ FayaliteFe22+SiO4
Siⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Siⓘ Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Siⓘ Opal var. Opal-ASiO2 · nH2O
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ TroiliteFeS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
FeIron
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ Berthierine(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ FayaliteFe22+SiO4
Feⓘ FerrihydriteFe103+O14(OH)2
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Feⓘ TroiliteFeS
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhla_meteorite
Wikidata ID:Q1082769

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: October 19, 2026 15:00:48 Page updated: August 22, 2025 04:21:04
Go to top of page