North America, Canada, Alberta, Bearpaw formation, late Cretaceous, ca. 71 million years ago. Stunning is an understatement for this exquisite ammonite that has formed iridescent ammolite! The fiery orange, yellow, red, and iridescent greens of the surface are astounding and well-preserved indicating the once organic shell material has transformed into ammolite, which is much like opal in coloration, however ammolite is one of the few "biogenic" or organic gemstones as it only develops from fossilized ammonite shells! The convex sides are mostly smooth with a tightly curled spiral which indicates this is a Plancenticeras meeki ammonite. This fossil was prepared by the company Canada Fossils Ltd, the sister company to Korite, the largest commercial producer of natural ammolite gemstones and jewelry, which provides ammonites and other amazing finds to important institutions, including an ammonite on display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York! This is truly a spectacular example! Size: 10.75" Diameter x 2.5" W x 6.5" H (27.3 cm x 6.4 cm x 16.5 cm)
Plancenticeras meeki was anything but meek - this was a swift predator that swam after prey, and did not passively float in the current, and inhabited the Western Interior Seaway that cut through North America. Their genus name is in honor of Fielding Meek (1817 to 1876), a pioneer in American paleontology. They could reach a staggering 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter - imagine a shelled creature of that size with tentacles outstretched swimming by!
Ammolite is a rare, iridescent, gem-quality material cut from the fossilized shells of extinct sea creatures known as ammonites. Found only in the Bearpaw Formation in Alberta, Canada - along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains - this organic gemstone has a dazzling range of colors and patterns and is highly desired for freeform natural cabochons and assembled jewelry pieces.
According to the International Gem Society (IGS) statement on the difference between Ammolite and Ammonite: "You may find the terms ammolite and ammonite sometimes used interchangeably. However, ammonite, strictly speaking, refers to the fossil shells of ammonites, whether gem-quality or not. Ammolite refers to the gem-quality material made from fossils of particular species of ammonites." Also, according to IGS, "Ammonites were marine mollusks that became extinct around 65 million years ago. There were many species of ammonites, and their fossils have been found across the globe. The fossils of Placenticeras meeki, Placenticeras intercalare, and Baculites compressus can yield gem-quality ammolite. To date, this material has been found only in Alberta, Canada."
Provenance: private Berthoud, Colorado, USA collection
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#169480
Condition
Professionally prepared. Abrasions and stable fissures throughout as expected with age and fossilization process. Surface is coated in thick, clear protective fixative. Old inventory labels on chamber opening.