A fossilized shell of an ammonite (ancient spiral-shelled marine creature) that has been transformed into an iridescent gemstone, found primarily in Canada and prized for jewelry.
From 'ammonite' (the fossil) plus '-lite' (from Greek 'lithos,' meaning 'stone'). The term emerged in gemology in the late 20th century when these fossilized ammonites were recognized as precious opals.
Ammiolites are time-traveling jewelry—these are 70-million-year-old shells that have transformed into iridescent gemstones while buried in the earth, and Canada's only official gemstone happens to be an ammiolite, making it a fossilized piece of ancient ocean.
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