Ammolite is a rare and valuable opal-like organic gemstone
found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of North
America. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are
composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreouspearls.
It is one of several biogenic gemstones; others include amber and pearl.In
1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by theWorld Jewellery
Confederation, the same year commercial mining of ammolite began. It was
designated the official gemstone of the Province ofAlberta in 2004 and the
official gemstone of the City of Lethbridge in 2007.
Ammolite is also known as aapoak (Kainah for "small,
crawling stone"), gem ammonite, calcentine, and korite. The latter is a
trade name given to the gemstone by the Alberta-based mining company Korite
International, the first and largest commercial producer of ammolite.
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