🐚 These beautiful Ammonite fossils are found in southern Alberta, Canada, where they’ve been preserved in shale for over 70 million years. Ammonites were squid-like creatures that lived in coiled shells, and this specimen comes from the Bearpaw Formation, a geological site known for producing some of the most well-preserved Ammonites in the world.⁠ ⁠ Many of these fossils reveal a vivid layer of Ammolite, an iridescent mineral (Aragonite) that forms on the surface of the original shell. Ammolite is prized for its striking iridescent colors, ranging from red, orange, and yellow to green, blue, and occasionally purple. The colors are completely natural and result from millions of years of pressure and mineralization. Ammolite is found almost exclusively in this region and is recognized as Canada’s official gemstone. Because Ammolite is relatively soft with a Mohs hardness of 3-4, Ammolite is often stabilized with epoxy or laquer to improve its durability.⁠ ⁠ _____⁠ ⁠ 📹️ courtesy of: @r...