Ammolite - A Stunning Gem Born from Ancient Seas

Ammolite Gem

Ammolite is where science meets art, a gemstone created by time, pressure and nature’s own design. This is one of the world’s rarest and most colourful gemstones, but what makes it truly fascinating is that it's actually made from the fossilized shells of ancient marine creatures known as ammonites.

Found almost exclusively in the Bearpaw Formation of Alberta, Canada, mining here is very regulated & restricted, making the already rare mineral even more limited! Ammolite is prized for its vivid colours, which range from green and red to deep blues and purples, no two pieces of Ammolite are exactly alike, making each one a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Blue Ammolite Gem

These creatures lived over 65 million years ago, swimming in the oceans during the time of the dinosaurs. Over millions of years, the shells of some ammonites were preserved and transformed into a brilliant, rainbow-coloured material through a combination of fossilization and mineralization.

How does Ammolite form?

Ammolite forms under very specific geological conditions. After an ammonite died, its shell settled into the sediment. In most cases the shell either dissolved, mineralized or lost its original luster over time. However, in the Bearpaw Formation of Alberta, Canada, something special happened.

Ammolite Necklace

Here the fossil shells of Placenticeras and Cleoniceras ammonites were buried quickly under layers of clay, shale and volcanic ash. This sediment was low in oxygen, which helped prevent decay and preserved the delicate outer layer of the shell, made of aragonite. This is a mineral similar to what makes up nacre (mother-of-pearl). Over millions of years the pressure, temperature and the unique mineral content of the region, caused the aragonite layers to compress and stabilize into Ammolite, creating the brilliant, shimmering colours we see today.

Because of its origin, Ammolite is not just a gemstone, it’s a piece of natural history. Many people love it for its beauty, while some are drawn to its metaphysical properties, believing it helps with energy flow and personal transformation.

How is Ammolite different from other Iridescent Ammonites?

While you might see other ammonite fossils with a natural iridescent glow, especially from places like Madagascar, Morocco or England, these are not true Ammolite, but how do you tell the difference?

AMMOLITE	IRIDESCENT AMMONITES
Found only in Alberta, Canada	Found around the world, mainly Morocco
Intense, multi-coloured iridescence	Iridescence is weaker
Features multi vibrant colours – Red, Green, Yellow, Blue and Purple	Only features 1 or 2 colours – Red, green or yellow
Classified and sold as a gemstone, recognised by the World Jewellery Confederation	Not stable or bright enough to be cut for gemstones or jewellery.

Ammolite Ammonite

Iridescent Ammonite

As Ammolite is super rare, we only have a very small selection of necklaces available with this gemstone. As I always say, when searching for rare fossils or gemstones, ensure you do your due diligence to check it is authentic and price is always a big giveaway – if it seems to good to be true then it probably is!