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Nakhla Martian meteorite, Nakhla, Abu Hommos, Beheira Governorate, Egypti
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Nakhla Martian meteorite | Meteorite Fall Location |
| Nakhla | - not defined - |
| Abu Hommos | Municipality |
| Beheira Governorate | Governorate |
| Egypt | Country |
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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:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Damanhūr | 227,943 (2014) | 17.1km |
| Idkū | 210,678 (2018) | 18.2km |
| Fuwwah | 63,310 (2015) | 19.8km |
| Kafr ad Dawwār | 267,370 (2015) | 21.0km |
| Ḩawsh ‘Īsá | 85,352 (2018) | 27.0km |
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 ElementsMineral 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 DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Troilite | 2.CC.10 | FeS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Halite | 3.AA.20 | NaCl |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ | Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | var. Opal-A | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Ferrihydrite | 4.FE.35 | Fe3+10O14(OH)2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anhydrite | 7.AD.30 | CaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Jarosite ? | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Chlorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Fayalite | 9.AC.05 | Fe2+2SiO4 |
| ⓘ | Pigeonite | 9.DA.10 | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | Augite | 9.DA.15 | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Saponite | 9.EC.45 | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Berthierine | 9.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
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| H | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-A | SiO2 · nH2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Fayalite | Fe22+SiO4 |
| O | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| O | ⓘ Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| O | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-A | SiO2 · nH2O |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| Al | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Fayalite | Fe22+SiO4 |
| Si | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-A | SiO2 · nH2O |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| Cl | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| Cl | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| Ca | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| Ca | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Fayalite | Fe22+SiO4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| Fe | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhla_meteorite |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q1082769 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
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References
Gooding, James L., Wentworth, Susan J., Zolensky, Michael E. (1991) Aqueous alteration of the Nakhla meteorite. Meteoritics, 26 (2) 135-143 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1991.tb01029.x
Treiman, Allan H (1993) The parent magma of the Nakhla (SNC) meteorite, inferred from magmatic inclusions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 57 (19) 4753-4767 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(93)90198-6
Glavin, D. P., Bada, J. L., Brinton, K. L. F., McDonald, G. D. (1999) Amino acids in the Martian meteorite Nakhla. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 96 (16) 8835-8838 doi:10.1073/pnas.96.16.8835
Bridges, J (2000) Evaporite mineral assemblages in the nakhlite (martian) meteorites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 176 (3) 267-279 doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(00)00019-4
Jull, A.J.T, Beck, J.W, Burr, G.S (2000) Isotopic evidence for extraterrestrial organic material in the Martian meteorite, Nakhla. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64 (21) 3763-3772 doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(00)00458-0
MIKOUCHI, Takashi, YAMADA, Ikiko, MIYAMOTO, Masamichi (2000) Symplectic exsolution in olivine from the Nakhla martian meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35 (5) 937-942 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2000.tb01483.x
SAWYER, Douglas J., McGEHEE, Michael D., CANEPA, Julie, MOORE, Carleton B. (2000) Water soluble ions in the Nakhla martian meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35 (4) 743-747 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2000.tb01458.x
Saxton, J.M.; Lyon, I.C.; Chatzitheodoridis, E.; Turner, G. (2000) Oxygen isotopic composition of carbonate in the Nakhla meteorite: implications for the hydrosphere and atmosphere of mars. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64 (7). 1299-1309 doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(99)00320-8
Varela, M. E., Kurat, G., Clocchiatti, R. (2001) Glass-bearing inclusions in Nakhla (SNC meteorite) augite: heterogeneously trapped phases. Mineralogy and Petrology, 71 (3). 155-172 doi:10.1007/s007100170037
Gilmour, J.D., Whitby, J.A., Turner, G. (2001) Disentangling xenon components in Nakhla: martian atmosphere, spallation and martian interior. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65 (2) 343-354 doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(00)00538-x
Mathew, K.J., Marti, K. (2002) Martian atmospheric and interior volatiles in the meteorite Nakhla. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 199 (1) 7-20 doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(02)00562-9
Varela, M. E., Kurat, G., Clocchiatti, R. (2003) Reply to comment: "The Nakhla Martian meteorite is a cumulate igneous rock" by A. Treiman. Mineralogy and Petrology, 77 (3) 279-285 doi:10.1007/s007100300001
Treiman, A. H. (2003) The Nakhla Martian meteorite is a cumulate igneous rock. Comment on "Glass-bearing inclusions in Nakhla (SNC meteorite) augite: heterogeneously trapped phases" (2001) by M. E. Varela, G. Kurat, and R. Clocchiatti. Mineralogy and Petrology, 77 (3) 271-277 doi:10.1007/s007100300000
Stockstill, Karen Renée, McSween, Harry Y., Bodnar, Robert J. (2005) Melt inclusions in augite of the Nakhla martian meteorite: Evidence for basaltic parental melt. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 40 (3) 377-396 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2005.tb00389.x
Toporski, Jan, Steele, Andrew (2007) Observations from a 4-Year Contamination Study of a Sample Depth Profile Through Martian Meteorite Nakhla. Astrobiology, 7 (2) 389-401 doi:10.1089/ast.2006.0009
Hallis, L.J., Taylor, G.J., Nagashima, K., Huss, G.R. (2012) Magmatic water in the martian meteorite Nakhla. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 359. 84-92 doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2012.09.049
Needham, A.W., Abel, R.L., Tomkinson, T., Grady, M.M. (2013) Martian subsurface fluid pathways and 3D mineralogy of the Nakhla meteorite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 116. 96-110 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2012.07.004
Goodrich, Cyrena Anne, Treiman, Allan H., Filiberto, Justin, Gross, Juliane, Jercinovic, Michael (2013) K2O-rich trapped melt in olivine in the Nakhla meteorite: Implications for petrogenesis of nakhlites and evolution of the Martian mantle. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 48 (12) 2371-2405 doi:10.1111/maps.12226
Chatzitheodoridis, Elias, Haigh, Sarah, Lyon, Ian (2014) A Conspicuous Clay Ovoid in Nakhla: Evidence for Subsurface Hydrothermal Alteration on Mars with Implications for Astrobiology. Astrobiology, 14 (8) 651-693 doi:10.1089/ast.2013.1069


Nakhla Martian meteorite, Nakhla, Abu Hommos, Beheira Governorate, Egypt