Judging quality
Look for complete uncrushed spirals, sharp suture lines and, for ammolite, broad unbroken color play. Many Moroccan pieces are heavily restored — ask what has been reconstructed.
Fossil
Ammonite
The coiled shells of cephalopods that vanished with the dinosaurs. Ammolite, the iridescent Albertan variety, is one of only a handful of organic gemstones.
Care
Aragonitic shells are fragile and dry out. Keep out of direct sun and away from heat.
History & lore
Ammonites are named for the ram-horned Egyptian god Ammon; in medieval England they were called snakestones.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Ammonite
- What is Ammonite?
- The coiled shells of cephalopods that vanished with the dinosaurs. Ammolite, the iridescent Albertan variety, is one of only a handful of organic gemstones.
- How hard is Ammonite and what is it made of?
- Ammonite is a Fossil-family mineral with the composition CaCO3 / aragonite. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and rates 3.5-4 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in brown, iridescent, grey.
- Where does Ammonite come from?
- Notable localities for Ammonite include Madagascar, Morocco, Canada (Alberta), England.
- How do you tell good Ammonite from filler?
- Look for complete uncrushed spirals, sharp suture lines and, for ammolite, broad unbroken color play. Many Moroccan pieces are heavily restored — ask what has been reconstructed.
- How do you care for Ammonite?
- Aragonitic shells are fragile and dry out. Keep out of direct sun and away from heat.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.