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VANCOUVER — In Canadian terms, this could rank right up there with the Hope Diamond, and police in Vancouver want to find it.

They’re looking for a rare gemstone stolen early last Friday morning in a robbery in the city’s Gastown district.

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The front window of Rocks and Gems Canada was smashed Dec. 20 and police say the crook made off with a nearly 28 centimetre-long piece of ammolite.

The opal-like gem, worth $500,000, is formed from the fossilized shells of extinct marine mollusks known as ammonites, and contains the same minerals that make pearls.

The gem was stolen at about 4 a.m. on Friday.

“Ammolite is designated the official gemstone of the Province of Alberta and is considered a Canadian National Treasure,” a release stated. “As such, an application to the Canadian Government must be made for it to be removed from the country.”

Police want to hear from anyone who may have information about the theft or know where the gem can be found.

Police are asking anyone with information on the theft or the gem’s whereabouts to call them at 604-717-3321 or leave an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

With file from the Vancouver Sun