Ammolite, the iridescent gemstone that’s actually cut from the fossilized shells of a prehistoric creature, comes from only one source. These gems have a truly fascinating story. Ammonites were squid-like creatures with sharp, beak-like jaws, a spiral shell and tentacles. They went extinct about 66 million years ago. Ammolite is the trade name for the iridescent, nacreous layer of the shell of fossilized ammonite. While fossilized ammonites can be found in several places around the world, a small area within the Bearpaw Formation, the name for the area leftover from where sediment settled on the bottom of sea, in Southern Alberta, Canada, is the only location where they have been turned into gemstones. A number of things had to happen for ammonite to become an ammolite gem. It had to be buried quickly, deprived of oxygen, protected from heat and excessive weight, and not be scavenged. The precise conditions for this gem to develop, in just one small area in the world, make Ammolite an extremely rare and unique piece of jewelry to add to your collection!