Characteristics of Ammolite:

Chemical Name: Aragonite polymorph

Formula: CaCO₃

Colors: All spectral colors -red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

Structure: Orthorhombic

Hardness: 3.5-4

Specific Gravity: 2.75-2.85

Refractive Index: 1.52-1.68

Lustre: Vitreous

Locations: Canada, USA

What is Ammolite? 

Ammolite is the lining of the shells from the ammonite, a mollusc that became extinct roughly 66 million years ago, around the same time as the dinosaurs. Its iridescent colors cross the spectrum, but green and red are most common, with gold or purple being rarer. It is found in many parts of the world, but the best examples come from Alberta, Canada, where it is mined. The Native American of Alberta, the Blackfoot people, known it as Iniskin, or Buffalo stone, and believed that it could attract buffalo near enough for them to be hunted.