Date of Declaration: 2012
The Gebel Kamil Meteorite area in New Valley Governorate was declared a natural protectorate under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 271 issued on March 18, 2012. The Gebel Kamil meteorite was discovered in February 2010 during a geophysical exploration expedition that included a team of Egyptian and Italian researchers. This major global scientific event was published in many international scientific journals in July 2010.
The meteorite is located in the Toshka region, in the area between Gebel Kamil and Gebel Uweinat, near the Gilf Kebir Protectorate in the Western Desert, about 2 km from the Sudanese border and approximately 150 km from the Libyan border. Its weight is estimated at around 10 tons. The crater is approximately 45 meters in diameter and about 16 meters deep. The age of the crater is estimated to range between 4,000 and 5,000 years.
Some rock samples resulting from the meteorite’s collision with Earth were collected, and laboratory analyses revealed astronomical information of great global scientific importance. These studies confirmed that large meteorites are capable of penetrating Earth’s atmosphere. Some of these samples have been placed in the Egyptian Geological Museum. The analyses also showed that the samples consist mainly of iron and nickel, similar to the components of Earth.
The discovery of thousands of meteorite fragments scattered around the crater is considered a rare phenomenon, making it one of the best-preserved craters on Earth and highly valuable for studying how meteorites collide with the Earth’s surface. Studies suggest that this meteorite originated from a region near Mars, though its exact source between Mars and Jupiter has not yet been precisely determined.
Description of the Gebel Kamil Meteorite Crater
The crater formed by the Gebel Kamil meteorite impact is basin-shaped, with a diameter of approximately 45 meters. Its edges rise about 3 meters above the surrounding ground surface, and its depth approaches 16 meters. Natural sand accumulation has covered nearly 6 meters of the crater over time. The surrounding area still preserves wave-like impact traces in the form of rays representing meteorite ejecta, confirming both the crater’s relatively recent age and its rarity.
Geological Description of the Crater Site
The Gebel Kamil crater area lies above sandstone formations composed of quartz arenite dating back to the Lower Cretaceous period. A thin layer of sand, only a few centimeters thick, covers the northern part of the site. Beneath these formations are Precambrian basement rocks. The area is surrounded by numerous mountains and ancient dry valley pathways, giving the region a uniquely beautiful landscape.
Importance of Declaring the Gebel Kamil Area a Natural Protectorate
- Its rarity: only about 15 similar sites exist on Earth, yet none are exactly comparable.
- Its relatively recent age.
- The rare preservation state of the meteorite ejecta and the distinctive environmental condition of the crater, resembling environments found only on the Moon or Mars.
- The presence of prehistoric human settlements containing historical, scientific, archaeological, geological, and environmental evidence.
- The meteorite’s iron and nickel composition represents the primary elements found in Earth’s core and in most planets of the solar system. Preserving these materials and their environmental context is therefore extremely important, as such cases are exceptionally rare on Earth. This provides valuable opportunities for studying the internal structure of Earth and planets, as well as meteorite composition.
- The small size of the crater indicates that the meteorite itself was relatively small before entering Earth’s atmosphere. This also highlights an important phenomenon that requires further study: how such meteorites can penetrate Earth’s atmosphere without completely disintegrating, eventually reaching the surface and posing a potentially serious threat to human life, civilization, the environment, and property.