[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

"Noah"s Super Putty". For whatever makes your boat float. How do you like it?

Heheheheheh. I like it.

Slraep

[Slraep]

Here are two species of Inoceramus fossils with their fossilized pearls.
Important: Note the size of the clam's shell in proportion to the "pearls". These Inoceramus fossils are quite small specimens, so imagine how tiny the pearls are. Also, this clam produced nacreous pearls which scallops do not.

[J Marcus]

I found a rather scholarly paper on fossil pearls in Texas at: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004AM/fin...ract_75787.htm

Also, there are some rather impresively sized ones at:
http://www.trapperjohn411.com/fossilized_pearl.htm Some with AGTA certs, even!

...and there's a real monster here, along with some fossil shark poop. Kind of hard to tell them apart, actually...
http://www.oceansofkansas.com/FieldGuide5.html

One can find most anything on the 'net these days.
______________________

J Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[jerin]

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

Not me I meant to be sarcastic. And every time someone puts a scallop shell up with a picture of plumbers putty I will be sarcastic. But its all in fun. Excuuuuse me. But I thought the thread was a joke. Still is.

Well <mikeyy, I did appreciate your sarcasm as I too found it VERY FUNNY, your word plays with Slraep and I don´t mind for my own sake but in a general way I thought it to act like a "sledgehammer" on the poor guy/girl posting it, even though I really do believe, that You and Slraep are absoulutely right, reading the facts. I just thought it so very harsh on the poor one posting and I am a bit embarassed as well as he/she is located in Sweden...


Slraep
I will try very hard not to be sarcastic for Inge's sake. I have made a kind and gentle member annoyed with me.

I do like a certain sarcasm and even enjoy it - sometimes.

[Mikeyy]

You may be right. Maybe I was just a little heavy handed.

[Caitlin]

I followed those links and trapper john has another page of great fossil pearls LINK

Some of them look like they may be fun to wear. They have kept their pearlescent surfaces, even in fossilization.
###
To sum up for Gere. If there is a pearl in that scallop shell it will be very tiny and not nacreous. HERE is a previous discussion on scallop pearls with pictures. This is what they look like when not fossilized.

If it is from near Mount Ararat, it is not salable because it is against the law to take or sell fossils from that area.

Look through the links in the post above to get an idea of the market value on nacreous fossil pearls and know that your fossil will be worth less. if legal, because it will never be a pearl from a pearl oyster with a shiny pearly skin.
Also notice these fossils are certified as real fossils by AGTA. Some kind of certification is necessary for such a pearls to be sold.

LINK
The pearl in a scallop shown above is a non-copyright stock photo and it represents a photo shop compilation by someone who knows NOTHING about where pearls come from. The above picture may be your dream of what's inside, but it is impossible in nature for that to happen. The shell is not from a pearl oyster and I think the pearl is probably fake.

I think you and whoever found that scallop got all excited and think it is worth something. The truth is it is not worth much- and if it is illegally gotten, it represents nothing but trouble for you.

[pattye]

Thanks, Caitlin, for an excellent summary! Also J Marcus for the references--the photos of the certified fossil pearls are fascinating.
And Slraep and Mikeyy, who can keep a straight face with you two around!! I have learned not to drink coffee while reading the morning's posts!!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Slraep]

The site with the certified fossil pearls is so interesting!

Pattye, it's great that we put a smile on your face so early in the day.

Slraep

[Mikeyy]

Oh I like to have a little fun. I do hope we didn't really hurt their feelings. Because I'm still considering that Stockholm Zoo job.

[gere911]

Originally Posted by Caitlin

I followed those links and trapper john has another page of great fossil pearls LINK

Some of them look like they may be fun to wear. They have kept their pearlescent surfaces, even in fossilization.
###
To sum up for Gere. If there is a pearl in that scallop shell it will be very tiny and not nacreous. HERE is a previous discussion on scallop pearls with pictures. This is what they look like when not fossilized.

If it is from near Mount Ararat, it is not salable because it is against the law to take or sell fossils from that area.

Look through the links in the post above to get an idea of the market value on nacreous fossil pearls and know that your fossil will be worth less. if legal, because it will never be a pearl from a pearl oyster with a shiny pearly skin.
Also notice these fossils are certified as real fossils by AGTA. Some kind of certification is necessary for such a pearls to be sold.

LINK
The pearl in a scallop shown above is a non-copyright stock photo and it represents a photo shop compilation by someone who knows NOTHING about where pearls come from. The above picture may be your dream of what's inside, but it is impossible in nature for that to happen. The shell is not from a pearl oyster and I think the pearl is probably fake.

I think you and whoever found that scallop got all excited and think it is worth something. The truth is it is not worth much- and if it is illegally gotten, it represents nothing but trouble for you.

Hi nice guys
sense of humor is necessaire
Labratory in Thailand told me that scallop shell or fish or Noa,h what ever it is more than one milion years old ,no boady can be expert .
I need some info I get it one or onother way
Caitlin I apreciate, you have right,it,s very sencitiv.
I ,m gone send you more pictures .KR

[jeanpn]

Originally Posted by Slraep

Fossilized shell, or in this case fossilized PECTINIDAE or scallops, are almost "solid" calcium carbonate inside and out. Depending on the minerals found in and around the shell at the time of fossilization, some translucent calcite crystals may also have formed. The whole thing is highly crumbly if poked at. A common scallop does not produce a true crystalline aragonite pearl anyway. So the thought of a pearl, or anything similar to a pearl being inside that fossilized scallop, is just sooooo far fetched, it's unbelievable. The thought of a scallop pearl, which is delicate enough when found in a live scallop, being found intact in a fossilized scallop, is again, really unbelievable. If finding one pearl in a scallop is unbelievable, finding more than one pearl is really, really unbelievable. The size of the "pearls" in proportion to the scallop shown by the poster is really, really, really unbelievable. If that round grey "pearl" in the poster's pic is suppose to have come out of a fossilized scallop the same size as in the pic---well, call me whatever you want, but "unbelievable" is just too mild a word to use here. I will try very hard not to be sarcastic for Inge's sake. I have made a kind and gentle member annoyed with me.

On another note, anyone collecting fossils of any kind which are not on their own land is most likely subject to government laws prohibiting collection without a permit. The Armenian and the Turkish government both PROHIBIT fossil collection on and around the Ararat mountains without a permit. IT IS ILLEGAL!!! So much for the poster's ridiculous "marketing" question.

The Smithsonian Institution has some 50 or so hard little balls, one-half inch to one inch in diameter that look like dull, dirty grey or yellowish grey pebbles. They are fossilized pearls from about one hundred thousand years ago, when Inceramus(oh, momma)lived in the sea and was a HUGE mollusc growing up to four feet wide. So if the big round grey "pearl" or the white shadow of a blob on the cell phone in the poster's pics is suppose to be a pearl/pearls coming from that fossilized scallop, it is indeed a miracle.

A pearl coming from a fossilized mollusc is more like a stone. There is no way to bring back its lustre(although some have been found with some lustre)and it's difficult to separate them from the rest of the fossil, since everything seems to merge into one lump of crude calcite.

Slraep

I love this forum! Pearls inside fossilized scallops--what deliciously esoteric information! May I ask, Slraep, do you come by this information professionally or is this your hobby?
Best wishes,
Jean

[Slraep]

Gee, I never noticed the last post!

It's a hobby, jeanpn. A professional hobby.

Slraep