Gem Ammonite in Matrix
Alberta, Canada
An ammonite shimmering with red, green, and gold ammolite, still set in its native rock.
Stewardship Records
- Identified as ammolite-bearing ammonite, Alberta.
- Currently in a collection; provenance dossier available on inquiry.
Formation
Ammolite forms from the fossilised, aragonite shells of ammonites buried in the Cretaceous seaway that once covered western North America.
Ammolite's iridescence is directional; an Archive piece rewards a setting where the viewer can move around it under good light.
Significance
Ammolite is an opal-like organic gemstone made from the fossilised nacre of ammonites, found in gem quality principally in the Bearpaw Formation of Alberta, Canada.
A gem ammonite preserved in its matrix keeps both the fossil and its geological context intact.
The play of colour depends on the thickness and preservation of the nacreous layers; intact, richly coloured specimens are the most sought after.
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