About Our Founder

Keith Mychaluk, BSc, MBA, P. Geol

After picking up a book on dinosaurs from his school library in kindergarten, Keith has been fixated with prehistoric life. Family members in Alberta, Montana and Arizona supported his passion for hunting fossils which quickly expanded into collecting gems and minerals. He earned a BSc in Geology from the University of Calgary and a MBA from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, both in the early 1990s. Keith is a Professional Geologist recognized by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Though most of his 28 year career has been as an exploration geologist for the Canadian petroleum industry, his real passion remains with gems, minerals and fossils. Keith has published articles for Gemological Institute of America's Gems & Gemology including the preeminent paper on Alberta's gemstone - Ammolite - and has appeared in several documentaries about the gem as well. Keith has provided abstract reviews of technical papers (and books) on the geology of gemstone deposits for both Gems & Gemology and the Journal of Gemmology.

Equally fascinated with fossils, Keith is a serious amateur paleontologist and tireless ambassador of Alberta's unequaled fossil history. For his volunteer work, Keith was bestowed Life Membership in the Alberta Palaeontological Society in 2011, having served as both as their the Vice President and Field Trip Coordinator for years. While still in high school, Keith first joined the APS back in 1986!

Keith enjoys sharing his passion for gems, minerals and fossils with his wife, five children and many friends. His mineral collection was profiled in Mineralogical Record's "Mineral Collections in the Pacific Northwest" in 2019. Keith is always happy to answer any questions you may have about mineral collecting, Ammolite or Alberta's fossils. 

 

Here are some of Keith's publications:

Mychaluk, K.A (2009) Update on Ammolite Production, Southern Alberta, Canada. Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California.

Mychaluk, K. A (2009) Geology of the Vertebrate Fossil Bearing Formations in Alberta IN Guide to Common Vertebrate Fossils from the Cretaceous of Alberta. Alberta Palaeontological Society, Calgary, Alberta.

Mychaluk, Levinson & Hall (2001) Ammolite: Iridescent Fossilized Ammonite from Southern Alberta, Canada. Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California.

Mychaluk, K. A (1995) The Yogo Sapphire Deposit. Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, California.

 

Documentary Appearances on Ammolite:

Ammolite: Gem of the West (2019). Narcona Entertainment, Calgary, Canada.

Stones of Fate and Fortune: Birth of a Gem (2003). Connections Productions, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada.