What is ammonite shell?
Ammonite shell in Alberta is the fossilized and mineralized remains of ammonite, a group of marine molluscs that became extinct approximately 65 million years ago. Ammonites are members of the cephalopod class, which includes nautilus, squid, octopus and cuttlefish. Ammonite shells first generated interest among Alberta mineral collectors in the 1970s when some specimens with iridescent red and green colours developed due to sedimentary mineral alteration were found in southern Alberta. The coloured shell is now used to produce ammonite shell jewellery, often referred to as ammolite.
