Originally Posted by Mikeyy

Really? Who is using Bironite in Australia?

I don't know who is buying bironite...but last time I spoke with some Aussie farmers (2002) they were excited about it since they could get large sized nuclei without the fear of fractures and in the supply they needed. They should have been able to compare pearls by now. Also, a good chunk of information appeared in "Pearl World"...can't remember the year nor issue number.

"Research & Development work to find a replacementfor Mississippi mussel shell for use as the pearl nuclei in the cultured pearl industry has been completed. Field trials “conclusively show the Bironite® nuclei is an acceptable alternative”. Mississippi mussel shell is becoming more expensive, while the Bironite nuclei is cheaper and can be cut to the larger sizes required by the South Sea pearl farms. The company reports encouraging preliminary interest from pearl farms in Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti, and a marketing program has been started" (from http://www.stockmarket.co.nz/backissues/ma327.pdf)

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by CortezPearls

I don't know who is buying bironite...but last time I spoke with some Aussie farmers (2002) they were excited about it since they could get large sized nuclei without the fear of fractures and in the supply they needed. They should have been able to compare pearls by now. Also, a good chunk of information appeared in "Pearl World"...can't remember the year nor issue number.

"Research & Development work to find a replacementfor Mississippi mussel shell for use as the pearl nuclei in the cultured pearl industry has been completed. Field trials “conclusively show the Bironite® nuclei is an acceptable alternative”. Mississippi mussel shell is becoming more expensive, while the Bironite nuclei is cheaper and can be cut to the larger sizes required by the South Sea pearl farms. The company reports encouraging preliminary interest from pearl farms in Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti, and a marketing program has been started" (from http://www.stockmarket.co.nz/backissues/ma327.pdf)

I would be interested if Mr. Snow has actually sold any of his product to farmers in Australia. I am skeptical.

[jshepherd]

That Pearl World article was published around four years ago. I haven't heard anything about bironite since.

Originally Posted by Josh

Douglas,
Good to hear from you again.
Bironite isn't smooth enough for me. Maybe they have made progress on it since I've used it (it's been years now) but it's also pretty expensive compared to prices of US White or even Pinctada MOP, both of which have come down a lot in recent years.

Thanks Josh, I do remember you mentioned using Pinctada mother of pearl beads with very good results. We used P. maxima beads in 1994-95 for our experimental stage with very good results.
I agree 100% with you on the nuclei's surface: a perfectly clean & polished bead will yield better results.
We've never used bironite, but the nuclei I handled felt "good" (good weight and it did whitstand a "bouncing on the floor"), but found its color and exterior "disturbing"...

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by CortezPearls

Thanks Josh, I do remember you mentioned using Pinctada mother of pearl beads with very good results. We used P. maxima beads in 1994-95 for our experimental stage with very good results.
I agree 100% with you on the nuclei's surface: a perfectly clean & polished bead will yield better results.
We've never used bironite, but the nuclei I handled felt "good" (good weight and it did whitstand a "bouncing on the floor"), but found its color and exterior "disturbing"...

I know an alternative that is better if that is where yo want to go. Dolomite is calcium carbonate. All the factors are good. The color is white and it polishes much better then Baronite. And its natural. Its not my thing but I personally think its miles above the synthetic product.

Originally Posted by jshepherd

That Pearl World article was published around four years ago. I haven't heard anything about bironite since.

My guess would be:

1) That the so called "Mussel Crysis" was not that big a threat.
2) That there are other mussel shell producers (China).
3) That bironite was not as good as it was claimed to be (or even more expensive).
4) There are other sources of shell for the beads: mainly Black & White/Gold Lipped MOPs.

But I would really like to know what happened to Bironite...

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by CortezPearls

My guess would be:

1) That the so called "Mussel Crysis" was not that big a threat.
2) That there are other mussel shell producers (China).
3) That bironite was not as good as it was claimed to be (or even more expensive).
4) There are other sources of shell for the beads: mainly Black & White/Gold Lipped MOPs.

But I would really like to know what happened to Bironite...

You can get the info from Pearling Technologies. Or contact George Snow at Atlas Pacific in Perth.

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

I know an alternative that is better if that is where yo want to go. Dolomite is calcium carbonate. All the factors are good. The color is white and it polishes much better then Baronite. And its natural. Its not my thing but I personally think its miles above the synthetic product.

Dolomite...sounds good. What would be your take on Aragonite? Never worked with it, besides just handling those nice crystals.
I guess I can make some Dolomite and Aragonite nucleus and try them out...just for fun!!! A simple experiment: 1 batch of MOPs with normal Missisippi beads, another one with Dolomite and a final group with Aragonite beads. Same technician, same day, same growth group, etc...harvest and compare.

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by CortezPearls

Dolomite...sounds good. What would be your take on Aragonite? Never worked with it, besides just handling those nice crystals.
I guess I can make some Dolomite and Aragonite nucleus and try them out...just for fun!!! A simple experiment: 1 batch of MOPs with normal Missisippi beads, another one with Dolomite and a final group with Aragonite beads. Same technician, same day, same growth group, etc...harvest and compare.

Be carefull where you get the dolomite. Some Dolomite has a high lead count. Obviously not good. But I don't think you will have too much trouble. The whiter the cleaner. I saw some for sale on Ebay a month or ago I have some somewhere. But only a few. Very nice stuff.

Ok...found this info:
Why does Bironite not have as high a polish as mussel shell?
Mussel shell will take a high polish, as it is a very fine-grained material although it can have several types of physical defects. Bironite is composed of crystals about 1 mm across and it will sometimes have very fine pits near these junctions. We are still developing techniques to reduce this, but we believe that this is not important for pearl development provided that these fine pits are not sources of infection.
(Source: http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/POIB/13/POIB13-6.htm)

And -just as Josh said- therein lies the problem: the pits, it is not good enough for high quality pearl production. What a pitty.
Guess this answers the "whatever happened to Bironite?" question...

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

Be carefull where you get the dolomite. Some Dolomite has a high lead count. Obviously not good. But I don't think you will have too much trouble. The whiter the cleaner. I saw some for sale on Ebay a month or ago I have some somewhere. But only a few. Very nice stuff.

Thank You for the Warning...will try to use a local supplier and have the goods analyzed by a lab before commiting myself to using lead tainted beads

Jeez! I grew up in a world afraid of being nuked to death...but these "Modern Days" are really more frightening: lead in everything, mercury in your tuna, mad cows and bird flu...

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by CortezPearls

Ok...found this info:
Why does Bironite not have as high a polish as mussel shell?
Mussel shell will take a high polish, as it is a very fine-grained material although it can have several types of physical defects. Bironite is composed of crystals about 1 mm across and it will sometimes have very fine pits near these junctions. We are still developing techniques to reduce this, but we believe that this is not important for pearl development provided that these fine pits are not sources of infection.
(Source: http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/POIB/13/POIB13-6.htm)

And -just as Josh said- therein lies the problem: the pits, it is not good enough for high quality pearl production. What a pitty.
Guess this answers the "whatever happened to Bironite?" question...

I have been around this nuclei business many years. I have seen many ideas come along with great fanfare and then fizzle. I can tell you this. Those who use the top grade U.S. mussel shell have the best over all harvests.

[Sueki]

You're o.k., Douglas,
Most of the mad cows are here in the U.K. ....

[Mikeyy]

Originally Posted by Sueki

You're o.k., Douglas,
Most of the mad cows are here in the U.K. ....

You have "Mad Cow" We have "Florida"

[aggiep]

lol, you have Florida, we here where I am have warren Jeffs.