What’s green, red and blue all over?

Ammolite, the provincial gemstone of Alberta, is a rare jewel found only in the southern portion of the province

If you're familiar with Alberta, you might know that the province's official flower is the wild rose. You might even know that Alberta's official tree is the lodgepole pine. But can you name Alberta's official gemstone?

Ammolite is a jewel formed from the shell of prehistoric ammonites. Though the ancient mollusks were widespread, the ammolite gem is found exclusively in southern Alberta, making it a perfect fit for the provincial gem. It is also the official gem of the city of Lethbridge.

Found in a vast array of hues, ammolite gets its colours from light interference during refraction within the layers of the gem. Each layer exhibits a different colour; thus, depending on the number of layers, ammolites can range from a single red shade to a full rainbow. Aside from jewellery, the gem is used by feng shui practitioners and is popular in Asia.

Those planning a trip to Lethbridge may be interested in touring an ammolite mine. Tours of the Korite Ammolite Mine—operated by Korite International, the world's primary supplier of ammolite—are being offered over the summer. The tours give visitors a glimpse into the working Korite Ammolite Mine, as well as the chance to learn about local geology and paleontology.

To find out more about the Korite Mine tours, visit the Tompkins Jewellers website.