gemstone
Ammolite
Biogenic gemstone (Fossilized ammonite shell aragonite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 3.5 to 4.5, vibrant iridescent play-of-color shifting between green, red, and blue, vitreous to greasy luster, orthorhombic crystal system for the constituent aragonite.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 3.5 to 4.5, vibrant iridescent play-of-color shifting between green, red, and blue, vitreous to greasy luster, orthorhombic crystal system for the constituent aragonite.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the fossilized nacreous shells of Late Cretaceous ammonites, primarily compressed and mineralized over 70 million years in the Bearpaw Formation.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in high-end jewelry as doublet or triplet gemstones and prized by mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Ammolite is one of the few biogenic gemstones and was officially designated as the official gemstone of Alberta, Canada in 2004.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive, vibrant dragon-skin or sheet iridescence; sourced almost exclusively along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada.
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Ammolite
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