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Iridescent Ammonite Fossil

By Alex in Pictures on Apr 3, 2009 at 8:45 am



Photo: Christie’s

If you have $60K burning a hole in your pocket, you may want to mark your calendar: Christie’s is auctioning this stunning 100-million-year-old iridescent ammonite fossils excavated from the Bearpaw Formation, in southern Alberta, Canada:

[Pierre Pare, president of Calgary-based Korite International Ltd, Canada's main producer of ammonite fossils] says demand for the fossils — formed from the remains of a primitive mollusk that died out at the end of the dinosaur age 65 million years ago — is also being driven globally by practitioners of the Chinese esthetics system feng shui, who covet the Alberta ammonite’s bright colours and spiral shape.

While ammonites can be found in many countries, the conditions creating the dazzling hues of the Canadian fossils "existed only in one place in the world — right here in southern Alberta," says Mr. Pare.

Link – via Geekdad


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COMMENT
  1. Evilbeagle
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 am

    That is gorgeous.

  2. Gauldar
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 9:49 am

    While very pretty, it is just a dead thing in a rock. I'm curious what the Young Earthers have to say about this post.

  3. volcanogodless
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Thats a very nice ammonite, but as a geologist, I see these things all over the place at rock shops and rock and gem shows, I find it hard to believe someone would be suckered into coughing up 60K for this... In fact I have a whole ammonite that is opalized and intact that I picked up for ~$30. I think it must be a matter of whose selling it, if it were Tiffany and Co. it would be 100k....my 2 cents

  4. Kathe
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Gorgeous, but I have a whole (slightly less beautiful) iridescent ammonite that I bought for 10 bucks at a local store.

  5. Kalel
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Ostentatious consumerism is not Feng Shue.

  6. DCPowerball
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    just awesome, very good.

  7. The Manticore
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    I love ammonite/ammolite. fave gemstone evar.

  8. ted
    Apr 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    "this ... fossils"?
    Maybe they should auction off some grammar lessons.

  9. jesus
    Apr 4th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    can't be, my dad created the earth only 6000 years ago

  10. roman
    Oct 18th, 2009 at 4:39 am

    aj ja chcem taky doma. je velmi pekny

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