8.2" Flashy Red Ammonite Preserved In Precious Ammolite

Flashy Red Ammonite Preserved In Precious Ammolite #222715

This is a flashy, 8.2" wide ammonite preserved in iridescent ammolite from the Bear Paw Shale of Alberta, Canada. It has wonderful orange, yellow, red, and green hues that shimmer differently depending on what angle the specimen is viewed from. Whole, and nearly whole, ammolite specimens are quite rare in and of themselves. Specimens with excellent color play are even more difficult to come by and should not be overlooked. this particular specimen has a fairly even coating of red and amber color play on both sides of the shell.

These complete, well-preserved, ammolite fossils are quite rare and are truly special. The Canadian government considers them part of the “National Treasures of Canada”. For this reason, all complete specimens must be inspected and registered by the Alberta provincial government. Each ammonite then receives a number and is entered in the provincial database. A cultural property export permit is required for them to be exported from the province. Documentation will be provided with the specimen upon request.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Ammolite is an opal-like gemstone found primarily in Alberta, Canada. It is a kind of fossilized shell from ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral contained in nacre (mother-of-pearl). The shell's microstructures are often preserved. In 1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO).

An ammonite composed entirely of ammolite. Complete specimens of this quality are rare and prices run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An iridescent opal-like play of color is shown in fine specimens, mostly in shades of green and red; howver, all the spectral colors can be seen. This iridescence is due to the aragonite's microstructure: unlike most other gems, whose colors come from light absorption, the iridescence in ammolite comes from interference with the light that rebounds from stacked layers of thin platelets that make up the aragonite. The thicker the layers, the more reds and greens are produced; the thinner the layers, the more blues and violets predominate. Blues and especially purples are the rarest colors, owing to the greater fragility of the finer layers responsible for these colors.