HOW DOES AN AMMONITE BECOME AMMOLITE?
* the process that turns a fossil shell into ammolite is not clearly understood, but the result is similar to opal (http://www.islandnet.com/~mineral/jewel6.htm) * brilliant patterns of color occur when tiny spherules on the surface split white light, in the same way a rainbow does (http://www.islandnet.com/~mineral/jewel6.htm)