Paua Opal Pendant

Pendant made of an opalescent paua shell shell, also called ammolite

silver mounted approx. 20 x 20 mm + 10 mm silver eyelet

You see here one and the same ammolite pendant, which shimmers in red or green depending on the incidence of light.

Ammolite is a rare opalescent gemstone.

It is mainly found on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and consists of the fossil remains of ammonites.
Ammolite is also sold under the trade names Calcentin or Korit.
Like the original shell, the ammolite is only present in a very thin (0.5-0.8 mm) layer, which is usually on a grey-brown matrix of slate, limestone marl, or limestone.
Overlying sedimentary layers have compressed the rock, so the ammonites are mostly crushed so that countless cracks form in the thin layer.
This crack texture is sometimes described as dragon skin or stained glass window-like.