Coaldale Crater Gemstones, Meteorite Impact Produces Rare Specimens Options

[ASTROBLEME]

Members and Guests of Colorado Prospector,

Many years ago I discovered a highly eroded, geologically complex and very ancient impact crater centered 3 ¼ miles northwest of Coaldale, Colorado (USA). I am announcing this discovery as a long-time contributor to this forum in an effort to assure that the public has access to this information. Dan (the owner and operator of Colorado Prospector) is preparing some of my "Coaldale Crater" specimens for jewelry settings. He has graciously agreed to document his work progress so that others can gain a better understanding of the effort it takes to transform these raw materials into valuable gemstones. Please take time to follow this project along the way. I hope you find the subject interesting.

I'll be sharing the science behind this amazing discovery as our work progresses. This research builds upon my work at Gunnison Crater, Westcliffe Crater, Silver Cliff Crater and Hillside Crater that proved an extension to the 38th Parallel Crater Chain dating to the Late Devonian Period. Although the Coaldale Crater is also along the 38th Parallel, it is not part of the well documented crater chain system. My efforts in the Coaldale Colorado region included collecting field survey data, acquiring and analyzing numerous geologic specimens followed by an extensive review of the relevant scientific literature. The results support an impact event that occurred during the Oligocene Epoch.

For now, I'm providing the attached map depicting the present peak ring exposure. It is fascinating that this impact crater has survived the deep erosion and strong fault deformation that Mother Nature has provided continually over the past 27+ million years.

Sincerely,

ASTROBLEME

[ASTROBLEME]

History of Impact Crater Discovery

John Tonko (my father) was fishing the Arkansas River a half-century ago just downstream from what I now recognize as the Coaldale Crater. He saw a glimmer of light coming from the wet black sands along the shoreline. Digging out the sparkling object, he thought at first it was just a piece of antique glass insulator. Closer examination showed that it was something very special. The specimen was subsequently examined by college faculty, gemologists, and geological laboratories. Their general opinion was that the gemstone was an exotic specimen of unknown origin.

John Tonko (my grandfather) came to America from Austria to first mine coal in Pennsylvania and a few years later he moved into Colorado to mine hard rock gold. That long family history is likely why I have such passion for prospecting. I remember my father's excitement that day of his find. He had never came across such a specimen in all of his life. Eventually he wanted to learn more about his find, so he had a "window" cut into the gemstone in the mid 1970's. That work was performed in order to reveal the interior that was hidden from view by the surface erosion pits created by the river currents. The gem cutter was surprised at the hardness of the specimen. There was some loss due to the cutting and polishing so the historic gem currently weighs in at 369 carats. The attached photos are of that historical blue-green gemstone my father found when I was just a boy. Now, through lots of time, substantial effort and personal expense, I have the good science that supports the source of that gem as being from the meteorite that created the Coaldale Crater some 27+ million years ago.

ASTROBLEME