Ammolite
Organic gem
Also called Korite
Take care.
- Fragile: Handle it gently and pack it well; it breaks or crumbles easily.
About it
Iridescent nacre of ammonite shells from the Bearpaw Formation of southern Alberta, about 70 million years old. The thin layer flakes easily, so most is sold as doublets or triplets with a clear cap.
- Type
- Organic gem
- Group
- Fossil ammonite shell (aragonite)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4.5
- Specific gravity
- 2.6–2.85
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), pearly
- Colours
- red, orange, green, gold, blue, violet, iridescent
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; flakes along its layers
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.