description Nakhla Overview
Nakhla is a Martian meteorite that fell near El Nakhla El Bahariya in Egypt on 28 June 1911. It is the type specimen for nakhlites, igneous rocks dominated by clinopyroxene that crystallized from magma on Mars and were later launched into space by an impact. Secondary minerals and alteration features within Nakhla provide evidence that liquid water interacted with the rock while it was still on Mars.
insights Ranking position
Nakhla ranks #19 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, behind EETA79001, ahead of Ensisheim.
help Nakhla FAQ
Why is Nakhla considered a Martian meteorite?
Nakhla shares distinctive mineral chemistry and age characteristics with meteorites independently linked to Mars. It belongs to the SNC group, named for Shergotty, Nakhla, and Chassigny.
What evidence of water was found in Nakhla?
Minerals in Nakhla record alteration by liquid water after the original volcanic rock formed on Mars. These secondary phases show that water interacted with fractures in its Martian parent rock.
Where and when did the Nakhla meteorite fall?
Nakhla fell in northern Egypt on June 28, 1911, scattering multiple stones over the area. As an observed fall, it supplied relatively fresh material for later laboratory study.
Did the Nakhla meteorite kill a dog?
A famous story claims that one fragment struck and killed a dog, but the account was reported decades after the fall. Researchers generally treat it as an unverified anecdote rather than established evidence.
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