Tags: Chemical Substance, Mineral.
Ammolite is an 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 nacreous pearls. It is one of few biogenic gemstones; others include amber and pearl.1 In 1981 ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) the same year commercial mining of ammolite began.
