This presentation is A Short Notes about Meteorites in North Africa Countries such as "Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia" Submitted By Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed El-shora M.Sc. Student, Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt. Mobile: +2- 0111 20 789 26 Email: geomohamedelshora@yahoo.com Supervised By Prof. Dr. Mohamed Th.S. Heikal Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt Email: mtheikal@tu.edu.eg & mohamed.heikal2010@yahoo.com

1. Notes on Meteorites in North Africa
Countries
Prof. Mohamed Th.S. Heikal*
Mohamed M. Elshora**
*Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527,
Egypt
mtheikal@tu.edu.eg & mohamed.heikal2010@yahoo.com
** M.Sc. Student, Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University,
Tanta 31527, Egypt
geomohamedelshora@yahoo.com

3. Agenda
 Introduction.
 Classification of Meteorites.
 Meteorites in Egypt.
 Meteorites in Libya.
 Meteorites in Algeria.
 Meteorites in Morocco.
 Meteorites in Tunisia.

4. Introduction
 Meteorites are rocks that fall to the Earth from space. Meteorites, large and small, have
been hitting our planet for billions of years, and they still hit today. They are collected and
intensely studied by scientists. Meteorites are samples from remote parts of our solar
system, with histories that extend back billions of years.
 Most meteorites come from asteroids, rocky bodies orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.
Recently we have learned that a few meteorites have been blasted off the Moon and the
planet Mars.

5. Distinguish between:
 Meteoroid : small body in space
 Meteor : meteoroid colliding with Earth and producing a visible light trace in the sky
 Meteorite : meteor that survives the plunge through the atmosphere to strike the ground...

6. Meteor Showers
 Most meteors appear in showers, peaking periodically at specific dates of the year.

7. Distribution map of the 182 confirmed meteorite
impact structures on Earth.

8. The Origins of Meteorites
 Probably formed in the solar nebula, ~ 4.6 billion years ago.
 Almost certainly not from comets (in contrast to meteors in meteor
showers!).
 Probably fragments of stony-iron planetesimals
 Some melted by heat produced by 26Al decay (half-life ~ 715,000 yr).

26Al
possibly provided by a nearby supernova, just a few 100,000 years
before formation of the solar system (triggering formation of our sun?).
 Planetesimals cool and differentiate
 Collisions eject material from different depths with different compositions
and temperatures.
 Meteorites can not have been broken up from planetesimals very long ago

so remains of planetesimals should still exist.

9. Classification of Meteorites:
 1-Chondrites: relatively unaltered, formed as aggregates of
primitive solar system material, unmelted asteroids, chondrules
usually present, 86% of falls.
1-
2-
 2-Achondrites: processed by melting, formed from
magma, crust or mantle of asteroid, no chondrules, 8% of falls.
 3-Iron meteorites: processed by melting, asteroidal core, 7% of
falls.
 4-Stony-iron meteorites: processed by melting, core-mantle
boundary of asteroid, 1% of falls.
3-
4-

10. Meteorite Classification
All Meteorites
Undifferentiated
Chondrites
Differentiated
Achondrites
Iron Meteorites
Stony-Iron
Meteorites

11. Meteorite Classification
Undifferentiated Meteorites
Chondrites
Carbonaceaous
Chondrites
CI
CM
CR
CO
RChondrites
CV
CK
Ordinary
Chondrites
H
L
Enstatite
Chondrites
LL
EH
EL

12. Meteorite Classification
Shergottites
Nakhlites
Martian
Meteorites
Differentiated Meteorites
Achondrites
Chassigny
Lunar
Meteorites
ALH 84001
Aubrites
Ureilites
Howardites
HED’s
(4 Vesta?)
Eucrites
Angrites
Diogenites

13. Meteorite Classification
Differentiated Meteorites
Iron
Meteorites
Octahedrites
Hexahedrites
Stony-Iron
Meteorites
Ataxites
Pallasites
Mesosiderites

14. Egypt

15. Gebel Kamil
 22°01’06"N, 26°05’16"E
 East Uweinat Desert, Egypt.
 Found: 19 February 2009
 Classification: (M. D’Orazio, DST-PI; Luigi
Folco, MNA-SI) Iron meteorite
(ungrouped), Ni-rich ataxite, extensive shear
deformation and low weathering.
 Specimens: Type specimen of
approximately 15 kg and one section
atMNA-SI; approximately 5 kg at DST-PI.
 Main mass of the recovered specimens at
Egyptian Geological Museum (Mineral
Resources Authority), Cairo, Egypt.
Fig 1. Kamil Crater, southern Egypt.
A: Enhanced true color QuickBird
satellite image (22 October 2005;
courtesy of Telespazio).
B: View of crater from west.

16. Gebel Kamil
 Physical characteristics: A 634 g type
specimen, measuring 88·70·55 mm, is
flattened and jagged shrapnel with a
rough, dark-brown external surface. The
surface originally sitting in the desert soil
shows some oxy-hydroxides due to terrestrial
weathering.
 Geochemistry: Composition of the metal
(ICP-MS; D’Orazio and Folco, 2003) is Co =
0.75, Ni = 19.8 (both in wt%), Cu = 464, Ga =
49, Ge = 121, As = 15.6, Mo = 9.1, Ru = 2.11,
Rh = 0.75, Pd = 4.8, Sn = 2.49, Sb = 0.26, W =
0.66, Re = 0.04, Ir = 0.39, Pt = 3.5, Au = 1.57
(all in ppm).
Fig 2. An ~3-kg shrapnel of the associated iron
meteorite.

18. Isna
 Place of find: About 100 km SW of Isna, on
the Nile River near Luxor, Egypt “24°50'N,
31°40'E”.
 Date of find: 1970
 Class and type: Stone. Carbonaceous
chondrite (C3, Ornans subtype).
 Number of individual specimens: 1, Total
weight: 23 kg.

19. Isna
 Circumstances of find: Found by
Mohammad El Hinnawi of the Geological
Survey of Egypt; main mass is preserved
at the Geological Museum, Cairo.
 Sources: Letter from Dr. Darwish Mostafa
Al-Far, Director, Geological Museum,
Cairo, September 2, 1974. R. L. Methot, A.
F. Noonan, E. Jarosewich, A. A.
DeGasparis and D. M. Al-Far. 1975.
Mineralogy, petrology and chemistry of
the Isna (C3)
meteorite.Meteoritics, 10, 121-131.

20. Libya

21. Dar al Gani 005 (CO3)
Latitude:
27°09.39'N
Longitude:
15°57.15'E
Mass (g):
1932
Pieces:
1
Class:
CO3
Fayalite (mol%):
15.5 (0.3-85)
Ferrosilite (mol%):
3.2 (1.2-14)
Main mass:
anonymous finder

22. Hammadah al Hamra 236 (L4)
Date:
1997
Latitude:
28°31.58'N
Longitude:
13°03.91'E
Mass (g):
8261
Pieces:
many
Class:
L4
Fayalite (mol%):
24.1
Ferrosilite (mol%):
20.6

23. Werdama
 32°47.839′N, 21°47.228′E
 Werdama village, Al-Beda, Al-Jabal AlAkhdar, Libya.
 Fall: 21 May 2006, 7:30 a.m. local time (UT+2)
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H5), S1, W0.
 Type specimens: Main mass of 2 kg (20 cm in
length) and 300 g are deposited in GMAlBeda
Geological Museum, and 250 g in PDAlBeda; 2 g
and four thin sections are deposited in UWroc.

24. Werdama
 History (M. Abu Anbar, TantaU; R. Kryza, UTWroc, T. Przylibski, WTWroc, and G. El Bahariya,
TantaU): A bombing sound and cloud of dust was observed in the village during the infall
on an apple farm. A crater of 30 × 20 cm and ~10 cm deep. No exact information about
the meteorite finder. (probably, the owner of the apple farm). Geologist Mohamed Abu
Anbar, TantaU got a few pieces for research from the finder during his visit to the site,
shortly after the fall.
 Physical characteristics: Reportedly, five pieces were found, with estimated total mass
about 4–5 kg. The diameter of the stone was about 25 cm and it had a light gray color, a
brown to black fusion crust ~1 mm thick.
 Geochemistry: Olivine (Fo79.7, Fa 19.7); pyroxene (Wo 1.3En81.0 Fs17.7); feldspar (Ab
82.8An11.8 Or5.4 ): kamacite (Ni 6.1–9.4 wt%); taenite (Ni =27.4–51.8 wt%).

25. Algeria

26. Northwest Africa 778 (H4)
Origin or
pseudonym:
El Mahbes
Date:
1999
Latitude:
29°25'N
Longitude:
5°16'W
Mass (g):
9747
Pieces:
3
Class:
H4
Fayalite (mol%):
17.5
Type spec mass (g): 70
Main mass:
Pani

28. Northwest Africa 059 (H3.9/4)
Origin or pseudonym:
El Aouina Souatar
Latitude:
31°50'N
Longitude:
2°56'W
Mass (g):
27 kg
Pieces:
several
Class:
H3.9/4
Fayalite (mol%):
19
Ferrosilite (mol%):
16.6
Main mass:
JNMC
Comments:
Fragments were found in two
different, unknown localities,
but all of those examined are
similar to each other, and all
material has been mixed
together.

30. Northwest Africa 4482
 Algeria
 Find: August 2006
 History: G. Hupé purchased the sample in August 2006 in Tagounite, Morocco.
 Physical characteristics: The meteorite consists of a total of 30 dark, magnetic fragments containing
yellowish-green silicate in a dark brown matrix.The fragments have a combined weight of 5816 g.
 Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Olivine (Fa12.2-13.0, FeO/MnO = 41.1-42.5). Oxygen
Isotopes: (D. Rumble, CIW) analysis of acid-washed handpicked olivine by laser fluorination gave δ18O
= 3.65, δ17O = 1.72, Δ17O = -0.198(all in ‰).
 Classification: Pallasite (main group). The original metal in this specimen is almost entirely weathered
to iron hydroxides.
 Specimens: A total of 20.1 g of sample, one polished thin section and one polished mount are on
deposit at UWS. GHupé holds the main mass.

32. Morocco

33. Toufassour
 29°39′.135 N, 07°44′.958 W
 Toufassour, Tata, Morocco
 Find: 16 November 2007
 Classification: Mesosiderite. Moderately
to significantly weathered, depending on
the grain size.
 Type specimens: 2 polished thin sections
and 89.6 g at IZU, one polished thin
section and 22 g atUPVI. An anonymous
dealer holds 300 g.

34. Toufassour
 Physical characteristics: The fusion crust is
absent and the surface appears dark
brown. Larger nodules of metal protrude
here and there, and larger inclusions of
silicates are seen, as greenish spots. Many of
the smaller specimens were rich in
metal, the phase, which best resisted
weathering.
 Mineral compositions and geochemistry
(EMPA): Pyroxene FeO/MnO =27, En70
Fs26Wo4 to En 59 Fs33Wo8 . Chromite Cr/(Cr
+ Al) =0.76. Plagioclase Ab7, An 93 .
Kamacite, Ni =6%. Merrillite contains
significant amounts of MgO.

36. Tamdakht (H5)
 31°09.8′N, 7°00.9′W
 Tamdakht, (Ouarzazate) Morocco
 Fall: 20 December 2008, 22:37 hrs (local time;
UT+00)
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H5), S3, W0.
 Type specimens: A mass of 21 g and one polished
section provided by P. Thomas are on deposit at
UPVI. 1 piece of 15.8 g provided by L. Labenne
and small fragments totaling 20 g at UHAC. Two
pieces 10.4 g and 8.6 g at MBE(B. Hoffman),
Svend Buhl 2 kg; Meteoritica (PThomas) 2.65 kg; M.
Zeroual 20 kg, main mass anonymous finder.

37. Tamdakht (H5)
 Physical characteristics: Total weight is presently estimated to be 100 kg.
Pieces recovered as of February 15, 2009, are 30 kg, 1.5 kg, 3.8 kg, 3.69
kg, 2.4 kg, 1.5 kg, 1 kg, 800 g, and 399 g. One major fragment of 1.7 kg and
many small pieces from the same stone (ranging 500 to below 1 g) were
also recovered. The largest fragment shows a nearly complete dull gray
fusion crust, other pieces are 90% crusted to free of crust, often broken
along preexisting fractures. Thick fusion crust, locally more than 1 mm.
 Mineral compositions and geochemistry: log χ = 5.3. Olivine Fa18 ± 0.5 Opx =
En83 Fs16 Wo2 Minor calcic pyroxene. Plagioclase is Ab83–86 An5–15 Or7–2. Caphosphate (merrillite and Cl-apatite). Chromite: Cr# (100× molar Cr/[Cr +
Al]) = 82. Metal: kamacite with 5% Ni and taenite with 36–47% Ni. Oxygen
isotopes (C. Suavet, J. Gattacecca CEREGE): δ17O = 3.26‰, δ18O =
5.01‰, and Δ17O = 0.65‰. Magnetic susceptibility is log χ = 5.3 × 10–
9 m3/kg.

39. Tunisia

40. Hezma MB91
 33°15′N, 10°28′E
 Hezma, Tunisia
 Find: 31 March 2002
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5/6);
S3, W1–2.
 Type specimen: 12 g and one polished
thin section are on deposit at Mün. An
anonymous finder, who is Tunisian, holds
the main mass.
 History and physical characteristics: A
single rock of 62 g was found ~10 km
south of Medenine in the Hezma area.
 Petrography and mineral compositions: (T.
Jording and A. Bischoff, Mün) Fa 24 and
Fs20.5.

41. Metameur 001 MB91
 33°21′24N, 10°24′32′′E
 Metameur, Tunisia
 Find: 4 December 2005
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL6);
S5, W1.
 Type specimen: A 30 g sample and one
polished thin section are on deposit at
Mün. An anonymous finder, who is
Tunisian, holds the main mass.
 History and physical characteristics: A
single stone of 748 g was found ~6 km
west of the city of Medenine in the district
of the small town of Metameur.
 Petrography and geochemistry: (T.
Jording and A. Bischoff, Mün): Fa 32 and
Fs26.

42. Metameur 002 MB91
 33°21′09N, 10°26′01′′E
 Metameur, Tunisia
 Find: 25 December 2005
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H4); S2,
W3–4.
 Type specimen: A 5 g sample and one
polished thin section are on deposit in
Mün. An anonymous finder, who is
Tunisian, holds the main mass.
 History and physical characteristics: A
small single stone of 17 g was found in the
district of the small town of Metameur.
 Petrography and geochemistry: (T.
Jording and A. Bischoff, Mün) Fa 18.5 and
Fs16.

43. Metameur 003 MB91
 33°24.2′N, 10°27.5′E
 Metameur, Tunisia
 Find: 25 February 2005
 Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L4);
S3,W3.
 Type specimen: 22 g and one polished
thin section are on deposit at Mün. An
anonymous finder, who is Tunisian, holds
the main mass.
 History and physical characteristics: A
single rock of 126 g was found in the
district of the small town of Metameur.
 Petrography and geochemistry: (T.
Jording and A. Bischoff, Mün) Fa 26 and
Fs19.5±3.2(pyroxene is still slightly
unequilibrated).