Ammolite vs. Ammonite — What's the Difference?

This gemstone is relatively soft, with a hardness of 4.5 on the Mohs scale.

Ammonites lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Ammolite is one of the few biogenic gemstones, originating from organic material.

Ammonite fossils are popular among collectors and are often polished to reveal their inner chambers.

Ammolite is a colorful, iridescent gemstone made from fossilized ammonite shells.

Ammonites are ancient marine fossils with a distinctive spiral shell.

Ammolite can display a full spectrum of colors, akin to opals.

A member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Ammon, mentioned frequently in the Bible.

The rarity of ammolite enhances its value significantly.

The Semitic language of the Ammonites.

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 contained in nacre, with a microstructure inherited from the shell.

An extinct cephalopod mollusk of the order Ammonitida of the Permian to Cretaceous Periods, having a thick, usually coiled shell characterized by intricate suture patterns where the septa between individual chambers join the outer shell wall.

A rare and valuable opal-like gemstone, made of the fossilized shells of ammonites.

An ammonoid.

(paleontology) Any of an extinct group of cephalopods of the subclass Ammonoidea; a fossil shell of such an animal.

An explosive prepared from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate; a form of amatol, popular in Eastern Europe and China.

A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis.

One of the coiled chambered fossil shells of extinct mollusks

These fossils are important for dating geological periods.

Their shells can vary widely in size, from a few centimeters to over a meter.

Ammolite is a gemstone formed from the fossilized shells of certain ammonites, known for its iridescence.

Ammolite is a gemstone made from the aragonite layers found in some ammonite fossils, known for its iridescence, whereas ammonite refers to the actual fossilized remains of the mollusks themselves.

Ammolite is primarily found in the Bearpaw Formation in Alberta, Canada, which is the main source of high-quality gem-quality material.

Ammonite fossils date from about 400 million years ago to 66 million years ago, spanning from the Devonian period through to the end of the Cretaceous period.

Ammonites are the fossilized shells of extinct marine mollusks that lived from the Devonian through the Cretaceous periods.

Ammonite fossils provide crucial insights into the geological and evolutionary history of the Earth, helping scientists understand ancient marine environments and the diversification of marine life.

Ammolite can display a range of colors, including red, green, blue, and violet, often in vibrant and iridescent patterns.

Yes, ammolite is used in jewelry, but due to its relative softness and brittleness, it often requires protective treatments like capping or coating with clear materials.

Not all ammonites become ammolite; only certain species that lived in the right conditions and whose shells composed primarily of aragonite can turn into ammolite.

Ammolite jewelry should be handled with care to avoid scratches and exposure to harsh chemicals; it is also advisable to store it in a soft, padded container.

While ammonite fossils are collected, there is no "mining" per se; instead, these fossils are often found through paleontological digs or surface collection in areas where sedimentary rocks are exposed.

The value of an ammonite fossil can depend on several factors, including its size, the quality of preservation, rarity, and the presence of iridescence in species that can produce ammolite.

Ammonite fossils may be cleaned, polished, and sometimes cut to reveal the internal chambers or to enhance their visual appeal for collectors and educational purposes.