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Pearl fact file
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Crystal Structure: orthorhombic
Chemical Composition: Aragonite ( calcium carbonate ) platelets held together by conchiolin
Hardness: 2.4 - 4.5 MOHs
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Refractive Index: 1.53-1.69
Colors: white with pink tones, tan, yellow, brown, gray, black with a purple or green luster
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Moonstone has for long been accepted
as the birthstone of June. In the modern list, it shares this duty with Pearl
and Alexandrite.
June birthstones,Pearls, are the only birthstones created by living organisms. When an irritant,
such as a piece of grit, enters the body of the shellfish, the animal coats the
grit with layers of nacre (aragonite), which is a form of mother-of-pearl, the
iridescent surface found inside shells. Pearl is also unique inasmuch as it is
probably the only gem material that can be utilized in jewelry immediately upon
finding one. All other gems need to be fashioned and polished, however crudely,
before they are set in jewelry. Care of pearls is very important. Pearls can be
easily discolored from skin oils. Properly strung pearls will have a knot between
each pearl to keep them from rubbing together. The cultured pearl can be damaged
by excessive wear that exposes the non-gem nucleus.
Related Pages:
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May
