Ancient stone Ammonite - where did it come from and what is its history, properties, who will suit and how to care

Ammonite is a stone unlike any other. These are the fossilized shells of mollusks that lived on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. They are chased by collectors, scientists use them to determine the age of rocks, and fashionistas are happy to wear pendants with this evidence of ancient life.

History and origin of the name

The oldest of these fossils are about 420 million years old. It was then, in the Mesozoic era, that mollusks appeared in the seas on Earth. About 220 million years ago, a mysterious catastrophe occurred on the planet, as a result of which most living creatures died out. It is now believed that it was caused by the fall of a large meteorite.

But gradually life recovered. Completely new groups and species of invertebrates appeared. This is what makes it possible to date the remains of ancient minerals. 66 million years ago there was a new collision of a meteorite with the Earth, as a result of which the dinosaurs became extinct. This also applies to marine life. Again, the species composition was completely updated, and the ammonites finally died out. Therefore, the youngest ammonites are 66 million years old.

These incredibly beautiful shells are evidence of such unimaginable antiquity.The cephalopods themselves are also called ammonites. The very word "ammonite" is also very ancient, although, of course, not as much as they themselves.

Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman scholar and writer who lived in the 1st century AD, described these shells and said that the ancient Egyptians dedicated them to their god Amun. It symbolized the Sun and the constellation Aries. When our daylight entered this constellation, spring began, the Nile flooded and life was renewed. It was the ancient Egyptian new year.

The shape of the shells resembled ram's horns, that is, it symbolized the very constellation Aries, when the Sun entered into which life began a new cycle. The shape of the spiral clearly showed the eternal cycle of life. On each new turn, everything repeats, but at the same time, on a new turn, expansion occurs as it moves away from the center.

Amon-Ra personified not only the Sun, but the entire boundless Cosmos, in which everything repeats again and again, acquiring new qualities with each cycle.

Pliny did not argue with the Egyptians and called these shells ammonites. This name was finally assigned to them by the French naturalist Jean Brugier at the very end of the 17th century. Now there are more than 3 thousand species of these mollusks that have lived on our planet for 350 million years.

Place of Birth

Ammonite deposits can be found everywhere. They are even found in Antarctica. For millions of years, the seas covered almost all the interior regions of modern continents. After some time, they retreated, and the remains of sea creatures remained thousands of kilometers from the seas and oceans.

In Russia, the largest samples of ammonites are mined in the Krasnodar Territory in the Belaya River basin. Here there are finds of shells more than a meter in diameter.

There are many finds of ammonites on the banks of the Volga. In 2005, a monument to simbircite was erected in Ulyanovsk, a rare mineral that resembles amber in color, but is calcium carbonate, just like chalk and marble. An ammonite is installed on the pedestal, the cavities of which are filled with this amazing mineral.

There are many ancient shells on the banks of the Oka River. Local fishermen even use them as stools, and their fragments go to sinkers.

On Sakhalin, in the valley of the Pugachevka River, on rocky banks and in talus, you can see a lot of ammonites. This place has been declared a natural monument.

Giant ammonites over 3 meters in diameter are found in the British Isles. In England they were called "twisted stones", and in Ireland "petrified snakes". Very large specimens are found in Germany, where they are called "golden snails".

The seas in Russia were colder, so here the ammonites usually do not exceed the size of more than half a meter.

In the north of America and Europe, there are fossilized straight shells of a large species of cephalopod mollusks up to 10 meters long. Even more in the ancient seas were octopuses, squids, cuttlefish and their relatives, reaching 17 meters.

In Madagascar, in Morocco, ammonites are found, the cavities of which are filled with precious and semi-precious stones, they impress with their beauty even in the photo.

In Canada, in the province of Alberta, there is a deposit of a variety of ammonite called ammolites. The inclusions of precious stones in them shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.

Physical Properties

Ammonites are of organic origin and do not represent a dense and homogeneous material.Cavities in ancient shells either remain empty or are filled with other minerals and rocks: jasper, chalcedony, pyrite, opal, and others. The shell itself is made of calcium carbonate, a mineral similar to chalk. If you look at chalk under microscopes, you can see that it is made up of tiny shells.

On the shells themselves, a layer of mother-of-pearl often remains.

Chemical properties and composition

The shell has a chemical composition of CaCO3, and its contents can be very diverse.

Very beautiful ammonites with FeS2 pyrite glisten in the sun like gold.

fakes

They rarely try to fake ammonites, except perhaps very small ones that are inserted into earrings and brooches, but such a fake is immediately visible. But a large ammonite will be more expensive to fake than to buy a real one.

magical properties

The spiral shape of the shell accumulates cosmic energy, which twists in a circle and collects in the center. It is no coincidence that the spiral can be seen in nature in objects of various scales. The arms of galaxies, hurricanes, whirlpools have this shape.

In wildlife, rose petals, needles on cacti, pine cones, sunflower seeds in a basket and our auricles are twisted in the form of a spiral. It was this form that nature chose for ammonites.

Ammonites share with man the collected cosmic energy. Their contemplation teaches us to go beyond the usual concepts, promotes the development of foresight and intuition, teaches us to think big and find cause-and-effect relationships.

They contribute to the organization of human life and its release to a new level, the revival of vitality and the discovery of the unknown.

Therefore, ammonites are a talisman not only for esotericists, seers, soothsayers, but also scientists, businessmen, and since ammonites are associated with the sea element, its positive influence will be useful to sailors, fishermen and travelers.

Medicinal properties

Ammonites have many medicinal properties, known since ancient times in many cultures.

The Arabs ground them into powder and gave them to women for conception, gestation and the birth of a healthy child. I must say that this has been confirmed by modern science, because calcium is necessary for the growth of bone tissue, and shells are very rich in it.

In ancient Greece and Rome, ammonite was placed under the pillow for beautiful dreams and cheerful awakening.

The Chinese use them both internally and externally. Shell massage improves the flow of Qi energy in the body and restores the harmony of Yin and Yang in the body.

European lithotherapists use the stone to treat skin diseases, improve the condition of hair and nails. Ammonite also improves the composition of the blood.

Zodiac signs

Ammonites are especially supportive of water signs:

Cancers will find true friends and harmony in the family.
They protect Scorpios from troubles and material losses.
Pisces will reveal their creative potential and possibly acquire unusual abilities.

But for other signs, ammonites will bring considerable benefits:

Lions will get the fulfillment of desires.
Sagittarius will be protected from rash actions.
Aries will feel a surge of energy.
Virgos will achieve their goal.
Capricorns will help in career growth.
Taurus will gain strength.
Gemini will help to concentrate on important matters
Libra will be kept from harsh words.
Aquarius will get rid of doubts and indecision.

Products with ammonite

Small ammonites are used to make pendants, earrings, rings and brooches.

Collectors hunt for large ammonites and especially rare types of shells.

stone care

There are no special rules here. Periodically clean the stone from dust and dirt with a soft brush and soapy water, and then rinse in clean running water.