Ammolite: Gemstone with Iridescent Colors!
Ammolite Characteristics
Ammolite Colors
Gemstone ammonite can be found in any color known in nature or the imagination of man. It can also have an infinite array of color combinations in every square centimeter. The higher grades will either have a very strong, bright single color, or contain a range of bright colors drawn from a color spectrum vaster than a rainbow. Lower grade gemstones will show less vibrant colors in a more limited range. Generally, red/green is more common than blue or purple, but there are certain hues, like crimson, violet and gold, that are very rare and in high demand.
Ammolite Iridescence
Iridescence is the property that creates the incredible colors across the surface of ammolites. The surface of gem-quality fossil shells is composed of closely-packed, tabular crystals of aragonite, with their c-axis oriented vertical to the shell surface.
Ammolite Chromatic Shift
The color of ammolite depends on the angle of light and the viewer’s perspective. Sometimes, a chromatic shift occurs. (Sometimes this is subtle; sometimes this is spectacularly dramatic). Red will shift to green, green will shift to blue, etc. This shift is called dichromatic.
Ammolite Rotational Range
Some material won’t show strong, vibrant colors through 360° of rotation. When these stones are rotated, the brightness decreases and darkens to black.
Ammolite Enhancements
Gems are sometimes treated with lacquer or Opticon fracture sealer for stabilization.
Ammolites can show striking patterns of healed fractures and colors. These have various descriptive names, such as:
Stained Glass: window panes
Dragonskin: scales
Cobblestone: regular, uneven rows
Floral: flower petals
Ribbon: long thin patterns
Feather: tendrils
Tin Foil: bright crinkle stack pattern
Paintbrush: broad strokes
Moonglow: inner glow, mono or dichromatic
Pinfire: small plates of changing flash
Sunset: red tinged landscape scenes
Lava River: green with red rivers of lava
Christmas Tree: green with red ornaments or freckles
Suture Gem: suture or leaf pattern
Nipplites: three dimensional rainbow eye or tubercle
Ripple: regular spaced rainbow striations or ribs
Banding: distinct color bands
Stain: spreading color changes
Lava Lamp: color globules
Terrain: aerial map
Ammolite Colors
Gemstone ammonite can be found in any color known in nature or the imagination of man. It can also have an infinite array of color combinations in every square centimeter. The higher grades will either have a very strong, bright single color, or contain a range of bright colors drawn from a color spectrum vaster than a rainbow. Lower grade gemstones will show less vibrant colors in a more limited range. Generally, red/green is more common than blue or purple, but there are certain hues, like crimson, violet and gold, that are very rare and in high demand.
Ammolite Iridescence
Iridescence is the property that creates the incredible colors across the surface of ammolites. The surface of gem-quality fossil shells is composed of closely-packed, tabular crystals of aragonite, with their c-axis oriented vertical to the shell surface.
Ammolite Chromatic Shift
The color of ammolite depends on the angle of light and the viewer’s perspective. Sometimes, a chromatic shift occurs. (Sometimes this is subtle; sometimes this is spectacularly dramatic). Red will shift to green, green will shift to blue, etc. This shift is called dichromatic.
Ammolite Rotational Range
Some material won’t show strong, vibrant colors through 360° of rotation. When these stones are rotated, the brightness decreases and darkens to black.
Ammolite Enhancements
Gems are sometimes treated with lacquer or Opticon fracture sealer for stabilization.
Ammolites can show striking patterns of healed fractures and colors. These have various descriptive names, such as:
Stained Glass: window panes
Dragonskin: scales
Cobblestone: regular, uneven rows
Floral: flower petals
Ribbon: long thin patterns
Feather: tendrils
Tin Foil: bright crinkle stack pattern
Paintbrush: broad strokes
Moonglow: inner glow, mono or dichromatic
Pinfire: small plates of changing flash
Sunset: red tinged landscape scenes
Lava River: green with red rivers of lava
Christmas Tree: green with red ornaments or freckles
Suture Gem: suture or leaf pattern
Nipplites: three dimensional rainbow eye or tubercle
Ripple: regular spaced rainbow striations or ribs
Banding: distinct color bands
Stain: spreading color changes
Lava Lamp: color globules
Terrain: aerial map
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09 September 2024
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