AMMOLITE- BACULITE

CANADA

GEM QUALITY BEAUTIFUL COLOURS

double sided

Gem quality baculite, also known as ammolite, refers to a type of fossilized ammonite shell that exhibits iridescent, rainbow-like colors. These colors are due to the mineralization and fossilization process, particularly the layer of iridescent nacre within the shell. Baculites are a genus of extinct cephalopods that lived during the Late Cretaceous period (100-66 million years ago).

Here's a more detailed look at gem-quality baculite:

• Ammolite Formation:

  The iridescent colors of ammolite are formed by the thin, tightly layered shell (nacre) of ammonites that has been replaced by the mineral aragonite during fossilization.

• Iridescence:

  The iridescence is a result of the interaction between light and the layered structure of the nacre, creating a spectrum of colors that shift depending on the angle of the light.

• Ammolite as a Gemstone:

  Ammolite is considered a gemstone, particularly valued for its unique iridescence and is often used in jewelry.

• Baculites and Ammonites:

  Baculites are a type of ammonite, and the fossilized shells of various species, including Placenticeras meeki, Placenticeras intercalare, and Baculites compressus, can produce ammolite.

• Location:

  Ammolite is primarily found in Alberta, Canada, making it a highly sought-after gemstone from this region.