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]

LUNAR METEORITE CREATED COALDALE CRATER!

A certified laboratory analysis of the material left over from CP’s gemstone prep is finally in hand and I’m sharing some of that research with you as I had promised. It is now my understanding, in consideration of the following;

1. Geology of the suspected impact crater structure at Coaldale
2. The minerology of the sample
3. Shock lamella and melt rims visible in sample
4. Values for elements in lab analysis being cross referenced with lunar samples

... that a very large impact into the moon ejected a mass having sufficient size and velocity that it ultimately formed a crater near Coaldale, Colorado USA. The most easily recognized pattern for determination of meteorites from the moon is by testing for an “Eu anomaly” in the specimen. The analysis I have secured displays such a deviation. Please reference the attached file for the data.



You can learn much more about the most recent lunar science that I used to formulate my opinion at this link…
Free Lunar Research Paper

Sincerely,

ASTROBLEME

[GeoMatt]

Extrusive rocks associated with volcanism in Colorado also have a documented negative Eu anomaly. Potassic trachybasalts (and other similar rocks) associated with this geographic area (both Rio Grande, and 39 Mile Volcanics), which share some affinities with your samples (high % phenocrysts, some enrichment of light REEs, etc., visual similarities), have a known negative Eu anomaly. I don't see a correlation in your element charting that can't be more readily explained by the local geologic history.

I'm not saying what you have isn't what you think it is, but that there are other explanations for the rock characteristics that have to be excluded. Just like melt rims, reaction rims, zoned crystals, etc.. on phenocrysts of volcanic rocks are not uncommon. As well as slickensides associated with faulting.

I note that you also state the mineralogy as a defining characteristic... I didn't see any detailed mineralogy in the previous posts. Have you had this sectioned and examined visually by a qualified mineralogist? microprobe? other method? What was so definitive about the mineralogy that aided in ascribing the given petrogenesis?

I fully understand you are still in process here, so I'm curious to see what else you come up with. Right now though, it wouldn't make it through peer review.