“A second chance at life”- Blood Tribe ammonite prospector gains international following

“I was blue, purple and green…Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Lynn – I’ll never forget those plastic surgeons that saved my life and afforded me this second chance to work with this ammonite and have another life. It’s so beautiful.”

But now, he hikes, climbs, scales and slides along treacherous cliffs in search of the precious fossils, which can sell for $100,000 or more, depending on the colour and amount of gem-quality material.

What Are Ammonites?

Ammonites are extinct mollusks that had flat spiral shells. They can be found in several areas around the world. But brightly coloured ammonites are found only in the ancient Bearpaw formation in northern Montana, southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Gemstone grade ammonites can only be found in southern Alberta near the St. Mary River and the Oldman River.

Ammolite is a relatively new gem, recognized by the Gemological Institute of America in 1981, and is cut from the shells of ammonites. Colours span the rainbow and can appear in various patterns. The gem and the intact ammonite shells found in southern Alberta are in particularly high demand throughout Asia, where Feng-Shui masters believe the shape of the fossil and the colours absorb the knowledge of the universe, while each colour represents everything from health and wealth, to love and power.

To the Blackfoot people, Jack says these fossils are viewed traditionally as healing stones and stones that bring good luck. They are called “Iniskim” and as the traditional story is told, generations ago, a woman heard a stone “singing” out to her with instructions on how to perform a ceremony that would bring the buffalo back to her people and save them from starvation. That stone, was the ammonite.

Learning and Experience

“About 20 years ago a friend of mine introduced it (prospecting) to me. His name is Troy Knowlton. He’s from Brocket. He has a business now. He brought me out one day and showed me what it really was. He said, ‘grab pick and a shovel and a backpack and a lunch.’ He worked the pants off me. I had blisters on my hands and on my feet; walking on the side of cliffs, digging, trenching, poking. Wow. Using every muscle I had.”

When Jack recovered, he felt a sort of “calling,” and had what he describes as an itch to learn more about excavating them, grading and polishing ammonites. Then two years ago, a man named Tom Dryden, who’s been mining for ammonites for nearly 30 years, also taught him how to piece the shells back together.

“When you get home, you can have 10, 15 pieces and you have to make sure you figure it out. He’s a great guy, he showed me how to work it.”

Jack can find anywhere from a single shell or pieces of a shell, to a dozen or more on his excursions. He is registered with the Kainai Resources office and can officially sell the material he finds. There are only about 35 people who have been given that designation. Other than mining company Korite International and a few other licensed miners/companies, it’s illegal for anyone else to sell or even give away ammonite they may find.

And Dryden, who has two parcels of ammonite-rich land that’s not owned by Korite, says it’s also illegal to prospect for it without proper permits and licenses. He has an agreement with the Department of Energy which administers mineral rights and excavation rights in the province.

“Anyone can walk on Crown Land or private land with permission and collect exposed ammonites,” he explains, “but you don’t own it. You’re actually just a custodian for the people of Alberta who own what’s classified as ‘historical resources.’ You are allowed to collect it, but not for any commercial reasons,” he adds.

For someone who does want to get into the commercial business, Dryden says you would have to get permission from someone who has a historical exemption for that land, and the land owner’s permission.

“Otherwise, it’s not possible anymore for a non-First Nations individual to collect ammonites for commercial purposes.”

The fines for getting caught doing so can go up to $100,000.

“Indian and Northern Affairs has just negotiated a process with the Kainai Resource office, and they issue collectors permits to members who are in good standing. That process is only about six months old,” he adds.

The process also allows those like Jack, with the permit to collect the ammonites on First Nations land to sell them to whomever they choose. Those who buy the products should also get a receipt with the permit number on it.

For Jack, one of the most important pieces of information is knowing “the zones.” That is, in which layers of rock, sediment and shale the ammonites are buried. The extraction process can take hours and can be very treacherous, he says. Recently he had a close call and slid 80-feet down an embankment before he was able to stop himself.

“You have to be prepared for all wind conditions, snow, hail. It’s dangerous, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Finishing the Fossils

Once he gets the fossil home, the family kitchen becomes his temporary work space, as he takes out his Dremel, the polishing heads and other equipment, and begins washing and polishing the 65-million-year-old pieces.

What emerges are beautiful hues of red, orange, yellow, green, gold, blue, purple, and even pink or turquoise, depending on the shell type. It can take anywhere from a few days, to a couple of weeks to finish polishing.

But it’s all worth it for him. He sold his first finished piece to a buyer in Asia a few weeks ago, and now he’s getting offers for his work from around the world. That initial client also bought a restored ammonite for his mother in Toronto.

“The buyer is really happy with it. It was a 17-inch pancake red fossil. We named her Ethel. He’s so happy, he put a positive review on Ammonizer’s Prospecting.”

Each ammonite, he explains, is unique. The most valuable piece he’s found to date was a 28-inch blue-green, orange and purple ammonite found on the Blood Reserve.

Jack is hoping that through his sales and his love for the fossils he can earn enough to not only keep supporting his family, but to build his own shop.

“I do the work right from my heart and do the best work possible. I want to make a name for myself and a family business.”

by Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

“A second chance at life”- Blood Tribe ammonite prospector gains international following

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