However, despite dragonskin material being relatively common, it is one of the most popular types of ammolite we sell. This zone holds the majority of AA grade ammolite and is where we collect most of our gemstones. We call this ammolite ‘sheet material’ as it contains few or no fractures. The highest grade and therefore rarest ammolite tends to be found deeper in the mine, in a layer called the ‘Blue Zone’. This zone only has a small amount of AA grade ammolite and is usually fractured through deposition, creating the dragonskin pattern. This is the shallowest layer of mining and lies approximately 15 metres below the surface. This material tends to come from a layer in the mine called the ‘K Zone’. One pattern we see frequently in our ammolite is what is known as ‘dragonskin’. Inclusions are normally an undesirable feature within a gemstone but in ammolite they can create very beautiful patterns.
Ammolite and InclusionsĪmmolite regularly shows natural inclusions, often in the form of healed fractures. Gems with unique paleontological features, such as suture patterns, are also rare and come with a higher price tag. As a result, gemstones that show a higher concentration of shades such as blue and purple are more valuable. Colours within the blue family are much rarer than red and green. However, there are other factors that are important when considering the rarity of ammolite. Therefore, it is not used by the Ammonite Factory to describe top-quality ammolite. Lower grade gemstones tend to show fewer colours or do not show colour from some angles.ĭid you know? Some other companies describe the highest quality of ammolite as ‘AAA grade’ but this is not a grade according to the IGS standards, just a marketing tool. Simply put, an AA grade gemstone needs to show at least three colours: one from the blue, green and red family and these colours must be bright from all angles.
The highest grade of ammolite by this system is AA, followed by A+, A and A. This system grades based on factors such as colour, iridescence, chromatic shift and the rotational range of colour. Whilst the ammolite industry does not have a universal grading method, the Ammonite Factory grades gemstones based on the system used by the International Gem Society (IGS). Like other gemstones, the grade is one of the most important factors when assessing the rarity and subsequent value of ammolite. Yes, some types of ammolite are rarer than others. The pits are also examined by hand due to its valuable nature.Īre some types of ammolite rarer than others? When we mine for ammolite, all the excavated material is screened for its potential gem contents. The Ammonite Factory has been in operation since 1987 and it is now becoming noticeably more challenging to find high-quality ammolite. Estimates suggest that there may only be around six to eight years of mining left. The limited areal extent of this deposit is the primary reason why ammolite is so rare. Ammolite has been discovered in other areas but it is rarely of high-quality. Just one area is known to yield gem-quality ammolite in commercial quantities, around the St.
This is because it is unique to a geological deposit known as the Bearpaw Formation. A unique fossilization history has resulted in the rainbow of colours that adorn this beautiful gemstone. However, one of the most common questions we are asked is, “how rare is ammolite?”Īmmolite is actually one of the rarest gemstones in the world. An official gemstone since 1981, ammolite comes from the fossilized shell of ancient marine mollusks, called ammonites, that lived in the Bearpaw Sea approximately 75 to 70 million years ago.
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