Pearl
| Colour | White, Pink, Gray, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–4.5 |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Uneven, various |
| Chemical formula | *Calcium carbonate, CaCO 3 |
| Specific gravity | 2.60–2.85 |
What is Pearl?
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which is deposited in concentric layers. More commercially valuable pearls are perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes, known as baroque pearls, can occur. The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearls have become a metaphor for something rare, fine
How to identify Pearl
- Hardness: Mohs 2.5–4.5 — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Pearl in different forms
Stones often confused with Pearl
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Pearl?
Pearl is Mohs 2.5–4.5 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Pearl?
Pearl is typically white, pink, gray, brown (White, pink, silver, cream, brown, green, blue, black, yellow, orange, red, gold, purple, iridescent).