In situ growth of small magnetite nanoparticles at natural clay nanotubes (halloysite). Novel, facile synthetic strategy involving a modified wet-impregnation method. Efficient catalytic decomposition of pentachlorophenol by magnetite@halloysite hybrids. Catalytic efficiency of hybrids significant higher compared to free nanoparticles. Hybrids can be reused for multiple catalytic cycles without noteworthy loss of activity.