![]() The rotational range of colour is also a main factor in determining the grade of a gemstone. Some ammolite material will just show monochromatic shift, where the colour shift remains within the same colour family, such as different shades of red. Lower grade gemstones may show dichromatic shift, when blue will shift to green for example. This is when the colours of the gemstone shift through the entire spectrum depending on the viewer’s perspective and the angle of light. AA grade ammolite has what is called a spectro-chromatic shift. The chromatic shift of the stone is also important. For example, a greater percentage of purple can increase the value as it is the rarest colour. To be top-grade, the stone must also be naturally bright and have no dark areas. The percentage of each colour can also determine the value of the gem. Orange and yellow shades are categorised under the red group and purple is included within the blue. It has to have at least three colours: one from the blue, green and red family. To achieve the AA grade status, the ammolite gemstone must meet certain criteria. As a result, many people have started buying ammolite as an investment. Estimates suggest there may only be between six and eight years left of ammolite mining. The amount of ammolite remaining in Alberta remains uncertain. The Ammonite Factory started mining for ammolite since 1987 and still does today. These mines are all located within the Bearpaw Formation in Southern Alberta. Today, there are several companies that operate ammolite mines. Ammolite started to become more popular when it was officially named a gemstone in 1981 by the World Jewellery Confederation. It is believed that it was not until the early 1900s that scientists first described iridescent ammonite shells and gemstones using this material were not seen until the 1960s. ![]() The young woman used the stone as directed and upon her return to camp, herds of buffalo appeared on the plains and the tribe's hardships had been diminished. After days of searching, she found the stone in a cave and it gave her instructions on how to perform a ceremony that would call back the buffalo. ![]() She was told to search for a coloured stone with magical properties that would ensure her tribe’s prosperity. While sleeping, a young woman within the tribe was sent a message by the Spirits in the form of a dream. ![]() Legend tells of a harsh winter where the Blackfoot people faced starvation as the buffalo herds had moved away and their crops were frozen. They refer to the gemstone as ‘Iniskim’ or ‘buffalo stone’. The people of the Blackfoot Nation have known about ammolite for many years. However, when compared to those found in Alberta, either their colour is weak, they are too fragile to create gemstones or not vibrant enough to be graded as gem-quality. This is because the only area in the world known to yield gem grade ammolite in commercial quantities is Lethbridge, Alberta.Īmmonites with colour and iridescent qualities have been found in other places such as Montana, Saskatchewan, England and Madagascar. Ammolite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. The mineral that caused this colour to form is called aragonite. This colour is a gemstone called ‘ ammolite’ and was created as a result of the geological and mineralogical processes that occurred in these areas. In some parts of Southern Alberta, the shell of the ammonite creature has an outer layer of beautiful colour. After being buried for millions of years, the remains of these marine organisms fossilized and left behind shells which are found throughout the world. Their existence on Earth lasted for 330 million years. When ammonites died, they were deposited at the bottom of the ocean and covered with sediment. These creatures, along with the dinosaurs, died out at the end of the Cretaceous Period around 65 million years ago. The term ‘ ammonite’ refers to an extinct group of mollusks. The difference between ‘ammonite’ and ‘ammolite’
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