Ammolite is undeniably the Canadian gemstone and one of the rarest gemstones on the planet. As rare as red diamonds, ammolite is only found along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Ammolite has characteristics similar to opals, but they are actually the fossilized shells of Ammonites - extinct marine invertebrates closely related to present day octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. The stones themselves are composed of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up a pearls nacre.
Ammolite is a very fragile material, prone to flaking and disintegrating. To prevent this, ammolite is impregnated with a clear epoxy or synthetic resin that coats the stone, protecting it from damage - similar to the treatment opals undergo.
We just picked up these stunning, and very large ammolites - now we have to figure out what to do with them!
