Iridescent ammonite fossil. This fossilised ammonite displays pearl-like colours of iridescence, which only become visible when the outer shell has be
Iridescent ammonite fossil. This fossilised ammonite displays pearl-like colours of iridescence, which only become visible when the outer shell has been peeled away. Iridescence is an optical phenomenon caused by interference within light rays reflected from a translucent multilayered surface. In this case, the surface is the finely layered aragonite in the ammonite shell. This ammonite (20 centimetres across) is Cleoniceras cleon, from Cretaceous sediments in Madagascar. Ammonites displaying iridescence like this are often sold as gemstones, and have been officially recognised as such under the name ammolite.
Size: 5138px × 3425px
Photo credit: © DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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