Uncovering the Rare Ammolite Gemstone

Ammolite is another relatively young gemstone. It wasn't discovered until 1960. So far the original mine, which is located in Alberta Canada, is the only place where this particular gem is found. If additional deposits are not located in the near future, it is possible that this stone will become very scarce, if not totally extinct, within 15 to 20 years.

This stunning gemstone comes from a rare mollusk fossil called ammonite, which resembles a giant Nautilus shell. The multicolored ammolite is formed by ammonite's compression, combined with heat, over a long period of time. This process causes ammonite to become opalized, thereby producing ammolite.

The gem contains multiple color combinations, which give it a unique rainbow effect. Colors usually include shades of blue, green, orange, purple, red, and yellow. However, because of the unique color combinations, no two ammolite stones are exactly alike.

Ammolite's iridescence and glow makes it a favorite among gem collectors. With some resemblance to boulder opal and others to black opal, the fire of ammolite easily rivals both. However, ammolite is far more rare, perhaps the rarest gem in the world today.

Unfortunately, ammolite is very soft; ranking only about 3.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is both delicate and brittle, making it an unlikely candidate for jewelry use on its own. It is, therefore, generally used in doublet or triplet form.

Doublets are most often made by adhering a layer of ammolite to a dark backing material like onyx. Triplets, as the name indicates, includes a third layer - - a top, transparent coating that gives the stone more durability. Doublets can afford the stone a hardness of about 5.5, while triplets increase its strength to as much as 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

Because of its natural fragility, ammolite is not faceted. Instead it is cut into cabochons, which tend to be either round or oval in shape. It is rarely prong set because bezel setting offers the stone more protection against daily wear and tear.