4" Iridescent Ammolite (Fossil Ammonite Shell) - Alberta, Canada

This is a 4" wide section of brilliant, iridescent ammolite from the Bearpaw Formation of SW Alberta. It has wonderful green, red and orange hues that shine differently depending on what angle the specimen is viewed from.

This specimen is unique in that it features the center spiral of the ammonite. The back side of this specimen also has two pyritized ammonite cross section. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Ammolite is an opal-like gemstone found primarily in Alberta, Canada. It is a kind of fossilized shell from ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral contained in nacre (mother-of-pearl). The shell's microstructures are often preserved. In 1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO).

An ammonite composed entirely of ammolite.  Complete specimens of this quality are rare and prices run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
An ammonite composed entirely of ammolite. Complete specimens of this quality are rare and prices run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.


An iridescent opal-like play of color is shown in fine specimens, mostly in shades of green and red; howver, all the spectral colors can be seen. This iridescence is due to the aragonite's microstructure: unlike most other gems, whose colors come from light absorption, the iridescence in ammolite comes from interference with the light that rebounds from stacked layers of thin platelets that make up the aragonite. The thicker the layers, the more reds and greens are produced; the thinner the layers, the more blues and violets predominate. Blues and especially purples are the rarest colors, owing to the greater fragility of the finer layers responsible for these colors.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Placenticeras sp.
LOCATION
Korite Ammolite Mine, SW Alberta, Canada
FORMATION
Bearpaw Formation
SIZE
4 x 3.6"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#156852
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