Westcliffe and Silver Cliff Meteorite Craters, Further Evidence of Extinction Level Event Options

[ASTROBLEME]

Greetings Everyone,

I am announcing this discovery as a long time contributor to the Colorado Prospector Forum and want to make sure that other members have access to this information. After initiating a research effort in 2005, I have been able to collect substantial evidence to support a double meteorite impact located in Custer County, Colorado. The Westcliffe Crater is the larger structure while the Silver Cliff Crater is smaller and both are named for the towns nearby. All my work has been done independently and at my own cost.

This previously unrecognized double crater structure is paired with my discovery of the Gunnison Crater. All 3 impacts occurred 360 to 375 million years ago. These impact craters are further evidence supporting the Tonko Lineament that recognizes the serial impacts across the United States aligning on the 38th Parallel. The crater chain and associated fish fossil records I have researched indicate a Devonian mass extinction event where 70% of life on our planet was eliminated. Along with hyper-velocity geologic evidence in the target zone, I have also recovered two meteorite types that are in the early process of classification.

Peak Ring Image of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff Craters


Westcliffe Meteorite (photo with light sourced to highlight metal inclusions but chondrules are still visible)



Silver Cliff Meteorite



Sincerely,

Johnny Tonko

[Gene Kooper]

For Astrobleme,

On your Crater Research web page you list several references, one of which is Warme (2000). Since you didn't include the title is it, "Anatomy of an Anomaly: The Catastrophic Devonian Alamo Impact Breccia, Nevada"? Dr. Warme has collaborated with numerous authors over the years regarding the Alamo Breccia so I was curious about your cite. Thanks.

Also, for those interested in a general article on the Alamo Breccia where you don't have to purchase the full article, here's a link to a January 2004 GeoTimes article entitled, The Many Faces of the Alamo Impact Breccia written by John E. Warme.