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Big Natural Pearl Attached to the Shell

Marine researcher and pearl farmer Dave LeBlanc recently found a large natural pearl attached to the shell of a mussel.

"Normally blister pearls present as a bump from a drilling predator or a ridge from a fracture, but this pearl spontaneously popped from its sac within the past year and became fixed to the shell.

Although the sac burst because of the sheer size, the pearl didn't re-position itself by the looks of the growth fronts towards the outside of the shell. However, its properties changed from pallial (within the mantle) to extra-pallial (annexed to the mantle). I'd hazard to guess it happened within the last month or two, because there's little to no mineralization at the point of attachment."

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This is especially interesting, as expelled pearls that attach usually become deeply embedded by the time they are found.

Dave lives in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada and operates Lagoon Island Pearl Farm, as well as being an owner-operator of Jim Creek Jade Mine
http://www.lagoonislandpearls.ca

Blaire Beavers
Managing Editor
Pearl Guide News
 
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