Two geologists from Washington travelled to north-central Montana last week after an accidental discovery of what they believe is a new meteorite impact crater, located just southeast of Thornhill Butte. The Havre Daily caught up with the two St. Martin University students at Havres Fifth Street Grind and Short Stop Thursday. The discoverers were on their way to a local laundry to dry their clothes, drenched in the previous days rain, before heading back out in their home-built buggy, the Mule designed for rugged terrain. Joe DAlelio and Gabriel Mainwaring of Shelton, Wash. Said they had been using Google Earth to locate fossil hunting grounds when dumb luck led the satellite view to scan over a formation familiar, yet very exciting.
We zoomed in and saw it had the form of a meteorite impact crater. We checked with the USGS (United States Geological Survey) and there was no record of it. The only one they have is south of the Missouri River about 200 miles. This one is located north of the DY Junction (Highways 66 and 191). You can see it from Highway 66. We loaded up the Mule and headed out Monday and camped when we got to the crater. We studied the rim, the bowl and surrounding area and took samples - Joe DAlelio.