Fossil Ammolite Digging! While at the ammolite mines in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Steve, Jeff, & Michael Moriarty got to tour the open pit mine where they do their primary digging for fine ammolite fossils with a crew and heavy equipment.

Here is where they find varying quality fossilized ammolite shells within the layers of earth. The deeper they go the more compressed they get. The lowest point being the layer with the most cracks, yet the highest point in the mine mainly pulls reds and are not as desirable as the middle layer. While we were there they found and dug up a “dragon skin” ammonite and extracted it from the earth. The last photo is of a large finished ammolite from the middle layer that they had found prior to our visit. That piece had very little damage and is a prime specimen from this source!

These fossil ammolites are around 70 million years old & these particular ammonites are among the few sources that produces such spectacular specimens and gem quality pieces.

PS Another fun fact is that they not only find these ammolite shells, but also large full mosasaurus fossils! They do not get to keep these fossils, as the government claims them. This can make finding one of the mosasaurs a bit of challenge for the miners, because they have to shut down and dig around that portion of the mining area so another team can properly excavate the fossil bones. I bet it would still be very exciting to find!

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