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| The natural stone Ammolite consists of brilliant, intensely hued bits of a rare, mineralized fossil shell. The mollusk ammonite became extinct more than 70 million years ago. When the fossil ammonite becomes opalized it is called Ammolite. Rare, gem -quality ammolite appears similar to black opal, showing different color combinations when the stone is viewed from different angles. The most common colors range from yellows, oranges to reds and greens. The blues are more rare and hence more expensive. The blue is a deep brilliant blue changing to turquoise. Absolutely stunning! Ammolite is found only in southern Alberta, Canada. |
| The story of Ammolite begins over 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs ruled the earth, pterosaurs glided overhead in the skies, and the oceans teamed with an enormous variety of aquatic life. Accompanied by tropical climates, the continents were evolving into the shapes and global positions we are familiar with today. During this time the interior of North America was partially submerged under the warm shallow Bearpaw Sea which bordered the developing Rocky Mountains. Today part of this region is south eastern Alberta, Canada. |
| Living in the Bearpaw Sea were many exotic creatures like plesiosaurs which "flew" through the water like penguins as they diligently fished the shallow waters. In addition to such "monsters" were ancestors of modern sea life such as sharks and turtles. One such ancestor were the ammonites, the predecessor to squids and the south Pacific nautilus. |
| Ammonites were squid-like creatures with coiled shells containing gas filled chambers which provided buoyancy. Like modern squids and nautiluses, they propelled themselves through the water with a "jet" and when threatened, clouded the water with ink during their escapes. Ammonites needed such speed and defense as they were favored as a delicacy by mosasaurs, another predacious marine reptile. |
| Sinking it's peg-like teeth into the coiled shell, a ravenous mosasaur would extract the ammonites squid-shaped body and devour it, discarding the empty shell which then sank to the sea floor. This is where fortunate circumstances came together to create specific conditions for the next step in the birth of a gemstone. |
| Settling on the sea bottom, the empty ammonite shell was buried in mineral-rich sediment carried there by rivers and streams from the young Rocky Mountains. During the fossilization process the sediment not only preserved the shell but also enhanced the shell's colors into iridescent greens, reds, yellows, and rare blues and violets. In 1981, the International Colored Gemstone Commission (ICGC) recognized this new organic gemstone as Ammolite. With finite supply in a very specific area and only one in a hundred of the preserved shells yielding few gemstones, Ammolite is the rarest gemstone in the world! |
THE WHITE AREAS ARE LIGHT REFLECTING OFF THE AMMONITE
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This is another BIG AMMONITE measuring 16" wide! The colors are bold and bright on this one. Nice shape with lots of "bumpy" areas..Canada Ammonite M17 Price $26,000.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This is HUGE specimen.. at 18" wide this specimen is gorgeous! Look at the photos.. I'll let them do the talking. Excellent opportunity to add a Museum Quality Specimen to your collection!Canada Ammonite M20 Price $35,000.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This is another BIG AMMONITE measuring 16.25" wide! The front of this ammonite has lots and lots of great colors with areas that are spectacular! Just about every color of the rainbow are present.. The reverse of this one didn't turn out as good as the front side.. but you can only display one side of the ammonite anyhow!! A really, really nice BIG AMMONITE at a BARGAIN PRICE!!Canada Ammonite M16 Price $7,500.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This is a wonderful work of art.. Perfect for the art collector as well as the fossil collector who can't afford a complete Ammolite Ammonite.. this large section of ammonite has been placed on a custom-made stand that outlines the complete ammonite. Very pretty in person!Canada Ammonite M15
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This specimen measures approx. 16" wide x 14" tall. Both sides of this specimen display bright, bold, stunning colors and details!Canada Ammonite M12 Price $26,888.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This MUSEUM GRADE SPECIMEN measures approx. 19" wide x 16" tall.. This is a BIG Ammonite! Along with the size, this superb specimen has every color of the rainbow represented.. Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Greens, Blues, Indigos and Violets!!! This is an EXTREMELY RARE and STUNNING ammonite!! Look at the photos and you decide.. If you are looking for THE CENTERPIECE for your collection, this is the one!! Ammonites of this quality are unimaginably rare!Canada Ammonite M13 Price $50,000.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This is a nice specimen that measures approx. 6 1/8" wide. Excellent shape and lots of underlying colors.. reds, oranges, yellows and greens.Canada Ammonite M4 Price $795.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This specimen measures 4 5/8" wide and is very dark in color.. there are lots of subdued sutures present and tiny areas of red ammolite.. another bargain specimen..Canada Ammonite M9 Price $100.00
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Name: Placenticeras meeki
Geologic Age: CretaceousStratigraphic detail: Bearpaw FormationLocation: Southern Alberta, CanadaComments: This specimen measures 4.25" wide and is very dark in color with great sutures.. unfortunately this specimen has no apparent ammolite present, but what it lacks in ammolite it makes up for in appearance! A nice specimen with great sutures..Canada Ammonite M10 Price $115.00