The Mount Kamel Meteorite Protectorate (Arabic: محمية جبل الكامل) was officially declared a protected nature reserve in 2012. The goal was to safeguard its exceptional geological features and cosmic heritage. The unique site was first discovered in 2010 by a joint Egyptian-Italian geological expedition conducting research in the region. During their exploration, the scientific team identified a giant, remarkably well-preserved impact crater on the Earth’s surface. Based on the structural evidence at the site, researchers determined that a massive meteorite collided with this area thousands of years ago. In addition to analyzing the crater, the scientific team also uncovered preserved fragments of the original meteorite scattered around the impact zone. Furthermore, they carefully retrieved a significant piece of the meteorite weighing 85 kg. This piece was later transported to be exhibited at the Geological Museum for public display and further scientific study.
Location of Mount Kamel Meteorite Protectorate
Mount Kamel Meteorite Protectorate is located east of Oweinat in the northeast of the New Valley. It is west of the Toshka River, 2 km north of the Sudan border, and 116 km from the Libyan border.
History of Mount Kamil Protectorate
In February 2009 and 2010, meteorite fragments with masses ranging from < 1 gram (0.035 oz) to 35 kilograms (77 lb), plus an 83 kilograms (183 lb) specimen, were found in and around a 45 metres (148 ft) radius from Kamil Crater by an Italian-Egyptian geophysical team. About 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) were recovered in the Mount Kamil Meteorite Protectorate. The geophysical survey was part of the "2009 Italian-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology."
Mineralogy
The Gebel Kamil meteorite Protectorate contains the minerals schreibersite and kamacite.
Characteristics and importance
The discovered meteorite weighs 10 tons and comprises 90% iron and 10% nickel. It moved from the asteroid area between Jupiter and Mars. Its speed before hitting the Earth was 12 thousand kilometres per hour. Eighty-three kilograms, and looking at the hole left by the impact on the ground, we find that it is one of only 15 holes spread on the surface of the Earth. Still, several advantages distinguish it from all of them. For example, the environmental condition in which it is now found is perfect, unlike the cases in which its peers are found worldwide. Its mineral components constitute the essential elements of the Earth’s centre and the solar system’s planets. Hence, studying these components is of great importance. This helps in studying the structures of the interior of the Earth and the planets.
The meteorite hit the Earth between 2000 and 5000 years from now. Evidence confirms that the impact was at an angle of inclination and did not take a vertical position. Meteoritic pieces in the region collided with the ground. As a result, the impact resulted in a crater 16 meters deep and 45 meters in diameter.