amnhnyc: Behold, this iridescent ammonite fossil from the Museum’s Grand Gallery! The vibrant colors
amnhnyc: Behold, this iridescent ammonite fossil from the Museum’s Grand Gallery! The vibrant colors seen on the surface of today’s Cephalopod Week feature are a result of light reflecting off of layers within the fossilized shell—similar to how oil on water produces a rainbow sheen. Ammonite fossils are an incredible source of information for scientists, from dating rocks to confirming the presence of ancient seas. The coloration of this specimen is unique to ammonites from Alberta, Canada; its iridescence is the result of nacre, the substance that made up the animal’s shell, being exposed to high temperatures and pressures over millions of years, becoming fossilized and turning into a mineral known as aragonite. Photo: © AMNH/C. Chesek (at American Museum of Natural History)https://www.instagram.com/p/CQlhbgBrGPR/?utm_medium=tumblr -- source link
#nature#beauty#fossil#rainbow#museumcollection#ammonite