During the Devonian to the Cretaceous periods, the right conditions had to be in place for an ammonoid mollusk to fossilize as an ammonite. As the ancient seas receded, the ammonoids were buried by layers of bentonite sediment. This sediment preserved the aragonite of their shelled remains, preventing it from converting to calcite. A very thin sheet of material on the surface of the creature's shell, between approximately 0.5 to 0.8 millimeters, opalized and those rare areas are called an ammolite.
Kateri Quandelacy Sanchez's ammolite Corn-Maiden has amazing opalized areas and is accompanied by a Zuni Sunface from malachite, pipestone and gold lip shell. The Corn Maiden's face is from gold lip shell etched and filled with jet paste. A lovely turquoise inlay adorns her. Dimensions of this spectacular piece are approximately 2" tall, 1 7/8" wide and 3/8" deep.
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