Reflecting those values and respecting the region itself, all ammolite mining sites are returned to their natural state after having been harvested. It is a gemstone available only in the Rocky Mountain region of North America, and the indigenous peoples speak reverently of its mystical origins and energies. His instincts were indeed correct, and Korite Ammolite is now purchased enthusiastically in over 25 countries around the planet. Purchased as a company in 1979 by Rene Vandervelde, its founder had a distinct vision to bring the rare, opal-like ammolite to the world. A genuinely one of a kind gemstone, Korite Ammolite is available here for you TSC. Korite’s rainbow gems and jewelery are available online through the company's website, and at jewellers across the country.In many ways, Korite Ammolite embodies everything that is uniquely Canadian: a bold reflection of natural beauty, cultivated with respect, and shared with the world to be marvelled at and enjoyed. The demand for Korite’s ammolite gems has created a handful of jobs for Southern Albertans as well: “In the last six months we’ve hired about 15 new staff and we plan to hire 10 to 15 more over the next 12 months,” Maull said. “At our last mine site, we proposed a new contour to prevent the land from washing away, and so that it was more environmentally friendly for the farmer to use after we were done,” said Maull. “We leave the land in better condition that it was when we arrived.”Īside from replacing removed soil and replanting grass, Korite works closely with Alberta Environment to go above and beyond to improve the landscape when an ammolite mining operation is complete. “Korite takes great pride in its environmental stewardship,” said Maull. Throughout the mining process, Korite has strived to maintain ethical and environmentally friendly practices. At its current rate of consumption, Korite estimates there is about 50 years of the ammolite deposit still uncovered.
“It had to be shown to have a commercial value, that it was sustainable as a gemstone, and that it was legally procured,” Maull said. The World Gemstone Federation recognizes this uniquely Canadian gem because of its rarity. Now where we mine, we only remove about 90 feet of overburden before we get to the formation.” “They found areas beside the river where Mother Nature had removed some of that 300 feet of overburden, making it economical to mine. “After the original founders had picked up everything that they could, they decided that they had to go and mine for it,” Maull said. “When it’s placed in the heart of the home or the business, the positive energy radiates out from the shell, pushing the bad energy out of the space.” “Feng shui masters around the world believe that this stone has absorbed the cosmic energy for the last 70 million years,” said Maull. Photo courtesy KoriteĪside from its brilliant colour, ammolite is said to have significant feng shui properties. Korite is the official jeweller for Canada's 150th birthday. The team is the official licensed jewelery supplier for Canada’s 150th birthday, and have created a reasonably priced special edition collection. “We are 100 per cent Canadian-owned.” Korite works with Canadian designers to create their jewelery. We promote Canadian heritage,” said Maull. “When we promote the stone around the world, we promote Canada. “We love the stone and where it comes from.” “Now, we sell the gemstone in 28 countries around the world.” Korite works to help promote Canada and Alberta tourism to the world. “It all started selling to the tourists in Banff, Calgary, Jasper and Lake Louise,” Maull said. The original founders wanted to share their rainbow-coloured discovery with the world. The 70-million-year-old fossil is found all over the world, but the perfect conditions of Southern Alberta have transformed the common fossil into a rare gem. Thirty years ago, no one knew what ammolite was. “There are places where you can find it on the riverbanks,” Maull said. “The ammonite shell is found in the Bearspaw formation, which is in some places 300 feet below the surface around Lethbridge, Alberta,” said Jay Maull, president of Korite. Ammolite is brilliantly rainbow-coloured and found on fossilized ammonite, a squid-like fossil. Korite, a Calgary-based mining company, has discovered a rare gem called ammolite in Southern Alberta. Ammolite is rainbow-coloured even in its raw form.