Ammolite is the rarest of gemstones, even rarer than diamond, it was discovered in the 1960’s in Canada (Alberta). The colourful ‘fire’ that ammolite gives off is unique to each stone so no two are ever the same. At this present time, the only place that ammolite is mined is in Alberta, Canada. And sources say there is only enough ammolite left in the mine for the next 15-20 years so the value is only set to go up and up.
How is Ammolite formed ?
Ammolite is approximately 70 million years old and is formed from a rare, mineralized fossil called an ammonite. Ammonites looked like giant Chambered Nautilus shells. Ammolite has been formed by the compression and alteration of ammonite shell. Only two species of ammonite produce gem material: Placenticeras meeki and intercalare. These ammonites are found in the Bearpaw Formation (Upper Cretaceous) which extends over a large part of Alberta into Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Gem quality material is only found in the area between the Red Deer River and the Milk River in southern Alberta. Ammolite is a multicolour opaque gemstone which resembles “boulder opals”. Gem quality ammolite is a crushed sheet of ammonite shell preserved in the centre of ironstone concretions.
