100 million years before the birth of the human race, planet Earth had a completely different life. Filled with outlandish creatures and giant plants. There was a place in it for fantastic mollusks - these are ammonites. They were cephalopods and had a spiral shell. Their sizes began from 5 cm and could reach 3-4 meters. Ammonites lived in the water, they were born and died in the depths of the ancient oceans. But the Mesozoic era has long sunk into oblivion. So why is it talking about ammonites in our time?
Mysterious cephalopods of the Mesozoic era and their features
The answer lies in the structure of the shell of these little-known mollusks and their value. Even after the death and decomposition of cephalopods, their protection could exist for many millennia. This is due to the strong structure of this type of shell, the content of natural minerals and calcium in it. The cephalopod shell after his death absorbed all the useful resources that contributed to the solid structure, and petrified. Imprints of the soft bodies of ammonites and substances are still found on stones and sedimentary rocks.
Distinguish types of cephalopods in the structure of the shell and its structure. They can be both spiral and smooth, as well as embossed. In some protective shells, the structure was symmetrical, while others were distinguished by their absurdity and unpopularity. The principle of twisting the spiral in the sink was also not always the same. Ancient ammonites are similar to modern squids, but they could be tens of times larger in size.
Values of the spiral shell and its natural resources
Such protection of mollusks contains nacre, iron ore, quartz and chalcedony. Experts, evaluating these treasures hidden inside the ammonites, distributed them to the section of semiprecious stones. Mother of pearl at the sink can be located both on the outer shell and inside. Of great value is the structure and property of ammonite stone, which was not subjected to a natural phenomenon and is well preserved. There are practically no sinks with the whole internal structure of nacre, due to the long storage time. Photos of ammonites and their structure can be considered below.
Most often, such cephalopod shells can be found with a diameter of 6 to 12 cm. But there are exceptions in the form of a stone of 2.5 meters. One resident of Brazil found such a unique shell. This beauty is fully decorated with multicolored iridescent mother of pearl on the outside. The stone was found intact and until it was split, no one knows what jewels this ammonite is filled with.
Major Fossil Locations
An interesting fact, which is the definition of ammonites as the first form of life, explains why, since ancient times, paleontologists and travelers have found many of these shells. Their abundance lies in the dense structure of the shell, and because of this and its long existence. That is why, even despite the extinction of mollusks more than a hundred million years ago, people can find them now.
The location of the ammonite fossil is distributed nearby deep seas and oceans. During their inception and subsequent existence, there were practically no land areas. Therefore, cephalopods spent their entire lives under water. Today, semi-precious shells are found off the coast of the oceans in Japan, Russia and Canada. Also, their location at the North Pole and its environs is not ruled out.
Clam fossil cost
Due to valuable natural resources and mother-of-pearl in ammonite, the price for one copy of it can reach hundreds of thousands of rubles. Such a rush for shells of mollusks is due to the aesthetic and visual beauty of semiprecious stones. When choosing a fossil, it is necessary to build on its external state, the presence of mother of pearl over the entire surface, polishing, adding precious stones and frames to it. For collecting, peeled ammonites are most suitable, but without additions and edging made of precious metal. Such specimens do not lose their naturalness, and polishing the fossil only adds to its beauty and grace. But for jewelry or a gift, you should rely only on your taste and financial situation.
Most valued are ammonite specimens living in the Cretaceous Period. Although then they built their shells asymmetrically, but their inner beauty is able to captivate any person. Ammonites of that period are also considered the most ancient and rare, because of these criteria, the price of seemingly awkward and unattractive shells is considered the highest on the market.
Jewelry made of centuries-old stone
Ammonites are common as collectibles and decorations. A talented stone-cutter is able to create an unusually beautiful piece of jewelry from an extraordinary shell, striking the imagination with its versatility and magnificence. It will be enough to dream up a little over the ornament and the shape of the fossil of the mollusk.
The most popular ammonite jewelry items are rings, earrings and pendants. The latter are most often made from sinks with diameters from 0.5 cm to 6 cm. A jeweler who makes such an excellent product and, having found a suitable stone with rich components, can simply cut it and fit it harmoniously into the frame. Ammonites with less colorful filling after separation of the shell are engraved or removed some component of the fossil, for example, leaving only the main part.
The healing possibilities of the remains of the mollusk and their magic
Ammonites gained their popularity not only as a source of natural beauty, but also for their magical properties and their use in alternative medicine. Ancient residents believed that such a magic stone could call for rain on the earth, help in the search for underwater sources. Nobody knows how reliable this is, but such methods are still used in India.
According to medical sources, ammonite stone and its properties help strengthen the immune system and get rid of many infectious diseases. Fossil also contributes to the development of positive energy in a person, getting rid of depression, eliminating sexual diseases in women.
Why ammonite?
In ancient Egypt, there were many powerful gods. One of them was Amon - this is the lord of all life in this area. Most often it is compared with Zeus, who was similar in appearance to him. However, the main difference between the gods was their horns. At Amon they were twisted, and at Zeus they were straight. That is why ammonite is a spiral shell, which was named after the Egyptian Thunderer.
Natural Monument of Adygea and its artifacts
Separately, I want to highlight the Ammonite Valley, striking with its splendor and extraordinary beauty of nature. Thousands of paleontologists gather in this place to study these fossils. The Ammonite Valley is located in Adygea, near the Belaya River. Unique artifacts are located along the entire perimeter of the coast, which has a length of tens of kilometers. Everyone can admire the ancient fossils, they are freely available.
Ammonites are protected by natural stones, which either crack themselves over time or are worn away by the constant flow of the river. Sometimes you can find the cephalopods themselves, or rather the remains. Consider the structure of their skeleton and capture it. This phenomenon occurs quite rarely, due to the fragility of the skeleton of ammonites. Most often, only fingerprints on stone splits remain, which can also be found by visiting the Valley.
For contemplators of natural beauty, in the nature reserve there are shells of these mollusks decorated with magnificent mother of pearl and many semiprecious stones. They are of great value to paleontologists and collectors. It is also worth noting the presence in the Valley of rare and endangered plant species that you can not only contemplate with your own eyes, but also touch them.
Guest house "Ammonit" Dakhovskaya
Also on the territory of Adygea there is a hotel, which was named after a natural monument. Hotel "Ammonit" is located near many reserves and amazing places, impressive in its beauty. Here you can not only visit a tour of the fossils of mollusks, but also admire the mountains, forests and rivers of this wonderful land.
Despite the fact that ammonites existed many millions of years ago, nature was able to transfer and preserve them through all this time. Fossils are able to surprise any person with their extraordinary beauty and magnificence of the semiprecious stones that they contain.
Ammonites became the first creatures to inhabit our planet. Their centuries-old history has contributed to the diversity and plurality of shells that are found in our time. This fossil in many peoples is considered a subject that can cure many diseases, charge with positive energy, and strengthen the human immune system. Each natural stone is unique in its own way, but ammonite is the best of them. He combined the healing properties and natural beauty.