Alberta's official gemstone, with 90 % of world supply from one river valley south of Lethbridge.
Iridescent Placenticeras shell in two Bearpaw Formation concretion horizons (K zone, Zone 4) along the St. Mary River is the only commercial ammolite source on Earth. Korite mined over 42 million carats between 2003 and 2016, went through CCAA in 2020 and now operates under Buffalo Rock Mining; Enchanted Designs opened a second site in 2025.
Korite SM4 >42 M carats (2003–16); ≈90–95 % of world reserves
Confidence: Measured
Korite42 M ct cumulative 2003–16; 6→8 M ct/yr targetGIA — ammolite ↗
Where it occurs
St. Mary River valley (Korite SM4)
Oldman River
Enchanted Designs site (2025)
GEOLOGY: WHAT MAKES A DEPOSIT MORE LIKELY
Aragonite ammonite shell preserved in siderite concretions within marine shale; gem quality in specific horizons.
Host formations
Bearpaw Formation (≈70–75 Ma)
Depth range
0–30 m
Favourable conditions
K zone and Zone 4 concretion horizons
River-valley exposure with shallow cover
Prospectivity envelopes on the map (1)
Bearpaw Formation ammonite zone (St. Mary River)Producing / drill-proven
Iridescent Placenticeras ammonite shell (ammolite) in Bearpaw concretions · 0–30 m
Bearpaw shale exposed along the St. Mary and Oldman rivers south of Lethbridge
Specific concretionary horizons (K-zone, Blue zone) carry gem-grade shell
Source: Korite International quarries; ammonite shell agreements (Alberta Energy).
DATASETS THAT TEST THE TARGET
Stack these layers on the integrated map
Discriminating datasets first, then every catalogued public dataset tagged to this commodity. Verified endpoints draw directly; link-only entries open the publisher page.
Bedrock geology of Alberta (Map 600 tiles)Alberta Geological Survey · Bedrock geology · drawable · verifiedWhich formation is at the bedrock surface: the first screen for outcropping targets such as silica sand, limestone, ironstone, bentonite, ammonite shell and shallow coal.Source ↗
Ammonite shell agreementsAlberta Energy and Minerals · Mineral tenure · drawable · verifiedAmmolite tenure along the St. Mary and Oldman rivers.Source ↗
Industrial mineral occurrences (DIG 2019-0027)Alberta Geological Survey · Mineral occurrences · drawable · verifiedQuarry and industrial-mineral target inventory.Source ↗
All 10 tagged datasets
Bedrock geology of Alberta (Map 600 tiles)Alberta Geological Survey · Bedrock geology · drawableSource ↗
Industrial mineral occurrences (DIG 2019-0027)Alberta Geological Survey · Mineral occurrences · drawableSource ↗
AGS prospective areas for mineral explorationAlberta Geological Survey · Mineral occurrences · drawableSource ↗
NRCan Map 900A: producing mines, mineral areas, oil & gas fieldsNatural Resources Canada · Mines & operations · drawableSource ↗
Ammonite shell agreementsAlberta Energy and Minerals · Mineral tenure · drawableSource ↗
Non-Crown mineral ownershipAlberta Energy and Minerals · Land constraints · drawableSource ↗
Parks & protected areas (by designation)Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism · Land constraints · drawableSource ↗
First Nations reserves & Métis settlementsGovernment of Alberta · Land constraints · drawableSource ↗
Alberta Township System gridAlberta Energy and Minerals · Grid & base · drawableSource ↗
VALUE & VALUE CHAIN
Gem ammolite: Value unverified; Korite lost ≈C$8.5 M anticipated sales 2019–20
Not in the Atlas price deck.
Value chain
Open-pit shale stripping
Hand sorting of concretions
Cutting and stabilizing
Jewellery (Asia-Pacific tourism market)
Industries and products that rely on it
Industry
Products
Alberta capacity
Growth
Jewellery & tourism
Ammolite gems
Korite / Buffalo Rock Mining; Enchanted Designs
StableNiche luxury, tourism-linked
DEMAND & PRODUCTION PROJECTIONS
What the forecasts say
OutlookNiche; demand tied to Asian tourism recovery
Key risks
Luxury demand
Single-market exposure
DEVELOPMENT: TENURE, ROYALTY, PERMITTING
What a developer needs to know
Tenure
Ammonite Shell Regulation (AR 152/2004): 15-year agreement + 5-year renewal, max 256 ha, $625 fee, $3.50/ha rent.
Royalty
Excluded from quarriable royalties; rate per IL 2004-18 (unverified).
Lead time
1–2 years
Permitting path
Ammonite shell agreement
EPEA Code of Practice for pits
Historical Resources Act palaeontology permits
Infrastructure needs
Excavators
Cutting workshop
Active players
Korite International (Buffalo Rock Mining)Enchanted Designs
Recommended next steps
Map K zone continuity along the Oldman River
MINES, PILOTS & PROJECTS (1)
Who is already working this commodity in Alberta
Korite ammolite mines (St. Mary River)Industrial mineral · Korite International (Buffalo Rock Mining) · >42 M carats since 2003; ≈90 % of world ammoliteOperating (2026)Bearpaw Formation K-zone; emerged from CCAA 2020.Source ↗