Ancient Ammolite

Ammolite Fossil ~ 71 Million Years Old Measures 2' Long   Mesozoic Era Ammonite cephalopods inhabit the inland subtropical sea that bordered the Rocky Mountains—this area is known today as the Cretaceous or Western Interior Seaway.   Fossilization As the ammonites died, they sank to the bottom and were buried by layers of bentonitic mud that eventually became shale. Millions of years pass and the ammonites become fossilized.   Mineralization Tectonic pressure, heat and mineralization formed the gemstone, almost exclusively harvested by KORITE.   Discovery Significant deposits of gem-quality Ammolite are found in the Bearpaw Formation that extends from Alberta to Saskatchewan in Canada and south to Montana, USA.   Refinement After mining, KORITE brings the Ammolite stone back to their headquarters. Technicians clean and hand cut each stone to maximize the unique colour.   Jewellery & Decor The Korite specialists hand craft each piece of Jewellery, carefully choosing and setting each stone inside every piece. Working with designers, they have created beautiful collections for you to choose from.   Canadian Ammonite Fossil Species There are three main species of Canadian ammonite fossils which KORITE extracts from our mine in Alberta, Canada. These species are Placenticeras costatum, Placenticeras intercalare and Placenticeras meeki. These species all vary slightly in appearance and dimensions, although the rarest and most desirable species is Placenticeras intercalare, which displays distinctive ‘horns’ that spiral along the surface of the ammonite fossil. These formations allow for unique and truly special surface texturing that is unlike the smooth, flat texture of other Canadian ammonite species. The size of Canadian ammonite fossils can vary greatly, with most falling within the range of 15 to 45 centimeters in diameter. That being said, KORITE has excavated a number of truly awe-inspiring ammonite fossils, some spanning close to a meter in diameter - the largest was approximately 87 cm!