AMMONITE SPECIMEN

CANADA CALGARY

NATURAL GEMSTONE

MOHS HARDNESS 4.5 TO 5.5

THIS SPECIMEN COMES FROM THE CALGARY AREA IN CANADA. THIS STONE WAS RECONIZED AS A GEM STONE IN 1981. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE VIBRANT COLORS COME FROM THE IRON MAGNESIUM AND COPPER SEAPING DOWN FROM THE ROCKIES AND REACTING WITH THE SHELL FOSSIL OF THE AMMONITE. THE COLORS AND PATTERNS CAN BE AMAZING.

NATURAL STONE TREATED TO STABILIZE

The name Ammonite comes from the Greek ram-horn God called Ammon. Ammonites are the most widely known fossil; they are cephalopods and first appeared in the seas 415 million years ago, in the form of a straight shelled creature known as Bacrites. During their evolution three catastrophic events occurred. The first during the Permian period (250million years ago), only 10% survived. They went on to flourish throughout the Triassic period, but at the end of this period (206 million years ago) all but one species died. Then they began to thrive from the Jurassic period until the end of the Cretaceous period when all species of ammonites became extinct.

Ammonite fossils are found on every continent. And come in every naturally occurring color. Because of their rapid evolution and wide spread distribution they are an excellent tool for indexing and dating rocks. If an ammonite is found in clay the clay will preserve the Ammonites mother-of-pearl luster.