Lot 4048* - A209 Out of This World - lundi, 17. juin 2024, 16h00
IRIDESCENT AMMONITE
Placenticeras costatum
400 – 65 million years
Korite Mine, Alberta, Canada
40 × 47 × 4 cm (measurements not including stand)
400 – 65 million years
Korite Mine, Alberta, Canada
40 × 47 × 4 cm (measurements not including stand)
Ammonites belong to the Mollusca phylum in a class known as Cephalopods, which are ’head-footed’ creatures such as octopus and squid. They swam in ancient oceans from 400 million years ago until their extinction, along with the dinosaurs, 65 million years ago.
The fossil's spectacular colour is the result of nacre, the substance that made up the animal's shell, becoming fossilised and turning into a mineral known as aragonite. The colours are produced by light being reflected off layers within the fossilised shell and interacting, much the way oil on water produces a rainbow sheen. Ammolite is one of only three gemstones produced by living organisms – the others being amber and pearls.
Ammonites that display this characteristic are known as ammolites and are found only in western Canada. There, ammolite deposits are found in several layers. The shallowest of these layers lies approximately 15 metres below the surface and extends 30 metres down. Beginning 20 metres below this layer is the ’Blue Zone’. This is where the specimens are found which have distinct and beautiful hues of blue and emerald green. This colouration in ammolite appears to be found in only a few mines, like the famous Korite Mine in southeastern Alberta. This is why ’Blue Zone’ ammolite is the most desirable and rare type.
The specimen presented here is a truly magnificent ammonite that displays breath-taking colours at every angle. It was recovered completely intact in one single piece; no reconstruction was required.
This ammonite represents the top 2% of ammonites that were discovered in the Korite Mine, on par with pieces on display at premier natural history museums around the world.
The fossil's spectacular colour is the result of nacre, the substance that made up the animal's shell, becoming fossilised and turning into a mineral known as aragonite. The colours are produced by light being reflected off layers within the fossilised shell and interacting, much the way oil on water produces a rainbow sheen. Ammolite is one of only three gemstones produced by living organisms – the others being amber and pearls.
Ammonites that display this characteristic are known as ammolites and are found only in western Canada. There, ammolite deposits are found in several layers. The shallowest of these layers lies approximately 15 metres below the surface and extends 30 metres down. Beginning 20 metres below this layer is the ’Blue Zone’. This is where the specimens are found which have distinct and beautiful hues of blue and emerald green. This colouration in ammolite appears to be found in only a few mines, like the famous Korite Mine in southeastern Alberta. This is why ’Blue Zone’ ammolite is the most desirable and rare type.
The specimen presented here is a truly magnificent ammonite that displays breath-taking colours at every angle. It was recovered completely intact in one single piece; no reconstruction was required.
This ammonite represents the top 2% of ammonites that were discovered in the Korite Mine, on par with pieces on display at premier natural history museums around the world.
CHF 35 000 / 45 000 | (€ 36 080 / 46 390)
Vendu pour CHF 35 000 (frais inclus)
Aucune responsabilité n'est prise quant à l´exactitude de ces informations.