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Ammolite (from a rare mineralized fossil) is a unique gemstone. Each piece, hand-cut and finished, is one-of-a-kind. More than 70 million years ago, a life form called "ammonite" roamed the sub-tropical seas that bordered the Rocky Mountains. Fossilization of the ammonite in iridescent hues of blue, green, red and gold created this new gem. Ammolite was discovered in Southern Alberta, Canada. Only limited quantities of Ammolite are available, thereby enhancing the value of this unique North American gemstone. It has a naturally occurring colourful mosaic pattern formed by millions of years of elemental change. The crushed compressed remains of fossilized ammonite shells are found compacted in the centre of shale concretions. Fossilized ammonites are found world wide but the ones found in Alberta are unique in that the shells found preserved in the shale have a rich dark vibrant colouration.
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Ammonites found in the rich bearspaw formation in Lethbridge (Canada) were believed to have been left behind when the inland sea receded. Thousands of shells were layered upon each other, covered with silt and volcanic ash, crushed and compacted together then exposed to eons of elemental movement and tectonic pressure to be unearthed 71 million years later as Ammolite. Ammonites are fossils and as such are protected by the Alberta Historical Resources act.
Ammolite, like pearls, has multiple thin layers which catch and reflect light. The iridescence that occurs is created by light interference and reflection from these layers. The colours most commonly seen in Ammolite are red, orange, yellow and green. Blue and purple are highly regarded and sought after by gem collectors and enthusiasts due to their rarity.
Ammolite was first discovered and used by the Blackfoot Indians who named it "Iniskim" or buffalo stone. It was kept wrapped in a medicine bundle of buffalo hide and used in ceremonies when the tribe was hunting bison. Native folklore indicates that the buffalo stone had been a sacred object for a very long time. This object was strong medicine and gave its possessor great power with buffalo (read the legend of Iniskim as the indians tell it).
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| Lethbrigde (south of Alberta) where the ammonite is found |
raw stone |
It was in 1908 that a member of the National Geological Survey team found mineralized fossils of ammonite along the St. Mary's River in Alberta. Later finds in the 1960's established a commercial potential but it was not until 1981 that enough high quality Ammolite was found to make mining commercially viable. The same year, the International Colored Gemstone Commission recognized the new organic gemstone as Ammolite.
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