Coaldale Crater Gemstones, Meteorite Impact Produces Rare Specimens Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[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

Reduced 93% 1680 x 940 (868.88K)

[GeoMatt]

Johnny-

Eric was perhaps a little blunt about it with a couple of statements, but he was just pointing out some differences between more formal research and what you have put together. I had some of the same questions in my own mind when reading through your posts. Now I don't mean to disparage your work, you've obviously taken a great deal of time with this, and you have stated that you are not interested in formal academic presentations of research. Nothing wrong with any of that, there are always significant contributions to science made in this way. However, when announcing discoveries and utilizing a public forum to provide some validation for your work, you should be prepared for questions on not only the research, but also the motivation for putting so much personal time, effort and money into the work - especially when the title of the thread uses "gemstones", and you have ongoing specimen sales and mining interests in other areas. It's a very skeptical and accusatory group here sometimes....

While I don't claim to have much knowledge in meteorites/tektites/impact geology, I do have a pretty good understanding of the underlying science based a couple of degrees in geology and engineering. For me, it would be greatly helpful (and educational) if you could share some of the laboratory data reports that must exist from some of this material. I'd also be interested in some descriptions/photos of the actual field sites where the material was collected - specifically the impact breccia and air fall deposition showing field relationships in outcrop, and where to that relationship have you found the shock melt meteorite fragments. Like you noted, I too am surprised that there would still be a ring structure of Devonian age in that location given the significant structural deformation and erosion history in the immediate vicinity. I'd be interested in seeing the most recent USGS map for the area to see that interpretation of the ring structure outcrop (if it has been mapped on a small enough scale) - I assume you would have this available. Also, any good references online in regard to the 38th Parallel Crater Chain that you can direct readers to?

Good science is made better through the challenging of data collection, analysis, and conclusions. It's best to remember this when posting and keep an open mind. You may not want an academic peer review, but you will receive a peer review wherever you publish and claim discovery.