Rainbow Ammonite Fossil

History of the Artifact Rainbow ammonites are fossilized remains of extinct marine mollusks, known for their iridescent, rainbow-colored shells. These ammonites lived during the Mesozoic Era, approximately 200 to 140 Million Years Ago, and were close relatives of modern squids and octopuses. Their coiled, chambered shells offered protection and buoyancy as they navigated ancient oceans. The rainbow-like appearance on some ammonite fossils, especially those found in areas like Alberta, Canada, is due to a phenomenon called "ammolite," where the fossilized shell develops a gemstone-like, opalescent layer over time. This stunning coloration is the result of mineralization, where layers of the shell's aragonite are preserved under specific conditions. Ammonites were widespread and diverse, with species varying greatly in size and shape, and their fossils are often used to date geological layers. They became extinct along with the dinosaurs during the mass extinction event at the end of the