![]() ![]() Eventually, a mass extinction killed off the entire species and intense environmental changes dried out the seaway, dehydrating the seabed. When the ammonites died, they sank to the bottom and became embedded in the mineral-rich clay. Ammolites formed in the sea known as the Western Interior Seaway which was lined in a bed of elementally rich, bentonitic clay. It was during this time that North America was dissected by a group of intercepting, shallow inland seas. Thinner layers typically give off a blue or violet coloration, while thicker layers produce reds and greens.Īmmonites were abundant during the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods (approximately 200-65 million years ago) and can be found in various deposits worldwide, but ammolites are specific to Alberta, Canada and are dated at approximately 70-76 million years old. Essentially, its color is a product of the density of its platelets. Ammolite derives its color not from the absorption of light but from the interference of light upon layers of aragonite. While ammolite is known for its richer tones and dazzling pearlescent shine, it is fundamentally similar to nacreous pearl bivalves such as pearl oysters, and freshwater pearl mussels. Although often mistaken for opal, ammolite has a base of aragonite, which is the same foundational element of nacre, commonly known as mother of pearl. The most desirable examples are brilliant in luster and exhibit a full spectrum of intensely saturated color. ![]() Ammolite is a colorful mineral that is derived from the fossilized shells of the class of cephalopods known as ammonites.
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