Striking Ammolite (Fossil Ammolite Shell) Pendant - Sterling Silver

This is a striking Alberta ammolite pendant set in sterling silver. It bears brilliant orange, red, and green coloration, with some blue and purple flash when viewing from a certain angle. Only the highest quality ammolite is chosen for use in this unique piece of jewelry.

It is accompanied by an 18" long sterling silver chain with a small silver ammonite that hangs from the clasp.

About Ammolite

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 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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Placenticeras sp.
LOCATION
Southern Alberta, Canada
FORMATION
Bearpaw Formation
SIZE
.85" wide (entire pendant), .53" wide ammolite stone
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#205917
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.