Decorative and gem-quality ammonites at a quarry of raw materials for construction in the neighborhood of Artyom city, Primorye

The integrated study is performed to analyze decorative and gem-quality ammonites at a quarry of raw materials for construction in the neighborhood of Artyom city, Primorye. Ammonites originate from the lower sub-stage of the Lower Triassic Olenek stage. The study shows that ammonites mostly consist of calcite (greater than 80 wt%). Ammonite shells feature a high degree of mineralization. The body and damaged chambers are composed of marl, and the undamaged hydrostatic chambers are mostly composed of calcite. Also, ammonites contain quartz, albite, illite, chlorite, kaolinite, dolomite, apatite, sphalerite, pyrite and sphene. Regarding impurities, there are increased contents of Sr and Ba. Initial aragonite forming the walls and partitions in the shells is replaced by calcite. Ammonites belong to calcite-type minerals. Mineralization of ammonite shells proceeded stage-wise, with formation of successive layers of calcite with crystals of different structure, color, size and morphology, and free from corrosion and replacement. The gemology-related characteristics of ammonites are determined, as well as the determinative factors which are to be taken into account during dressing. The color of calcite depends on the structure, transparency and morphology of crystals, on the color of the substrate, and on the content of Fe and Mn. Ammonites feature a wide range of sizes, high decorative quality, and beneficial ecological and processing characteristics. It is convenient to perform by-production of ammonites during quarrying, without high material inputs.

Petrochenkov D. A., Baraboshkin E. Yu., Fedoseev D. G. Decorative and gemquality ammonites at a quarry of raw materials for construction in the neighborhood of Artyom city, Primorye. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(4):104-120. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/ 0236_1493_2024_4_0_104.

D.A. Petrochenkov, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Assistant Professor, Head of Chair, Sergo Ordzhonikidzе Russian State Geological Prospecting University (MGRI-RSGPU), 117997, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: p-d-a@mail.ru,
E.Yu. Baraboshkin, Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU), 119991, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: ejbaraboshkin@mail.ru,
D.G. Fedoseev, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Researcher, Far Eastern Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (DGI DO RAN), 690022, Vladivostok, Russia, e-mail:  dmitry_fedoseev@bk.ru.

D.A. Petrochenkov, e-mail: p-d-a@mail.ru.

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