Ammonite fossils are extinct marine mollusks, which died out in the Late Cretaceous Period, 65 million years ago. The two species of ammonites which produce the beautiful gem ammolite, are the Placenticeras Meeki, and the Placenticeras Intercalare, from the class Cephalopoda, and the order Ammonoidea. They vary in size from several inches up to two feet or more in diameter. Some of these ammonites surely broke apart before becoming imbedded in the shale where they were trapped. Others succumbed to time and pressure, and were crushed apart. Still others suffer decomposition when the forces of erosion work on them, as they approach the surface, and exposure to the elements.

Aurora Ammolite Mine collects fossils on its gem property, both through excavation and surface collection. When the specimens are found intact, they are restored as closely as possible to their original condition, to reveal their natural charm and beauty. This process can take many days. Our ammonite/ammolite fossils and specimens are then coated several times with a hardened resin to protect and enhance the beauty of the piece, and resist impact damage, or oxidation. Finally they're polished to a high lustre finish.

As with the fine gems, these ammonite fossils are highly prized and sought after by collectors worldwide, and are individually priced according to size, shape, color and quality. We also offer a variety of specimen pieces, which you can view in our online store. These include smaller ammolite "gem nuggets", as well as sawed or broken pieces of larger ammonite shells. Availability varies, so please contact us for details.