It has a characteristic rainbow tint. This is due to the structure of the shell itself, consisting of tiny plates separated by thin air layers that refract light rays. Although this mass consists of thin layers covering each other, gradually secreted by the body of the animal living in the shell, it is very strong.
Production
The main places where mother-of-pearl shells are mined are the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Ceylon, Japan, Borneo and the Philippines, some tropical islands of the Pacific Ocean, the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Freshwater pearl mussels are almost extinct; they are sometimes found in the rivers of Northern Europe and the Russian North. High-quality mother-of-pearl is mined only in tropical seas.
Much of the market is mother of pearl, obtained by divers from shells in the process of searching for pearls. However, there are shells in which there is much more mother-of-pearl than ordinary ones - they are mined separately. The color of mother-of-pearl varies depending on where it is mined - for example, the Indian Manilla clam produces exclusively white mother-of-pearl, while the abalone clam produces dark red nacre.
Story
Mother of pearl has been known to man for a very long time and was among the first known ornamental materials - necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry with this stone are found in the tombs of Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Rome, mother-of-pearl was valued on a par with pearls, being considered a symbol of wisdom and power - according to legend, the walls of Emperor Nero's palace were lined with mother-of-pearl plates. During the Middle Ages, cups and vessels decorated with mother-of-pearl were especially popular among the nobility; whole, gracefully twisted sea snail shells, set in silver and decorated with fine engravings depicting mythical sea monsters or mermaids, were also used for these purposes. It was believed that a drink poured into such a cup would heal serious illnesses and prolong life.

In Russia in the 18th-19th centuries. in most jewelry on a par with precious stones they used mother-of-pearl, which was a favorite insert among court jewelers; Cups, snuff boxes, boxes, and church utensils were also decorated with mother-of-pearl “scales.” Mary Stuart and Catherine II had mother-of-pearl necklaces.

Part of a set of jewelry (15 items in total), diamonds, gold, mother-of-pearl, 18 c (from the collection of the Diamond Fund).

Until the 18th century, mother-of-pearl powder could be bought at any pharmacy - it was considered a unique healing agent (today mother-of-pearl is also actively used in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals).

Artificial mother of pearl
Today, the harvest of shellfish containing pearls and mother-of-pearl is very limited. The need for pearls and mother-of-pearl is much greater than nature can provide - shells take a long time to grow and are quite difficult to obtain. The production of artificial mother-of-pearl, which is produced using gelatin and “pearl essence,” has long been established. This substance (essence d’Orient) is a liquid from the scales of bleak (Ukelei, Cyprinus alburnus). The scales are ground with water until all the shiny pigment settles to the bottom of the vessel. This precipitate is washed with ammonia and mixed with diluted gelatin. The substance with a silver luster consists of microscopic crystals, a compound of guanine and lime. The method was invented in the 17th century in France.

Jewelry (rings, bracelets, earrings, beads and necklaces, pendants) and accessories (buttons, fans, boxes, mirrors, combs, etc.) are made from mother-of-pearl, furniture is inlaid, musical instruments, household items.


coin holder lipstick case cosmetic bag cigarette case

binoculars and fans

box and bags

tote bags and pill box

cufflinks, powder box and spoons (I'm touched)))

The main method of processing is to cut mother-of-pearl with a special steel saw, then remove the top layer using a sharpener, then grind and smooth it. On last stage it is polished with a special solution with sulfuric acid, which gives additional shine to the mother of pearl.
Mother of pearl can be dyed, this process takes 2-3 days and the main color is black, as it is very popular and has unusual shades. The technique of mother-of-pearl inlay is popular; wood, precious metals and stones are used as the basis. One of modern trends in jewelry, there is a mosaic made of mother-of-pearl - the surface is inlaid with small pieces of mother-of-pearl, which ultimately form an unusual picture with a large number of refractions.

Real mother of pearl is determined using heat and an open flame. When brought to it, mother-of-pearl containing 2% water cracks and loses its shine. Mother of pearl is afraid of the effects of acids, abrasives, fumes, and cosmetics.
Caring for mother-of-pearl jewelry is simple - they are washed in soapy water or wiped with potato starch to remove dirt; The main rule is to keep mother of pearl clean. The “mother,” like the “child” pearl, suffers from lack of attention and only gets better from frequent wear.

Websites used in preparation: etsy.com, dragkamen.ru, abc-jewels.rubizhuterija.com, bicostyle.ru, kamni-minerali.lact.ru, inmoment.ru

Mother of pearls - this is how the word “mother of pearl” can be translated from German. This one is beautiful natural material inspires not only jewelers to create wonderful jewelry, but also chemists who want to recreate the unique properties of a substance in the laboratory at all costs. Slowly approaching their goal, they have already achieved significant results.

But still, man has not yet managed to create anything similar in terms of the variation in the physical characteristics of the initial materials and the final product (in this case, mother of pearl). That is why the latest achievement of scientists looks so impressive compared to the rest.

In the course of research, chemists found that the high strength of mother-of-pearl is determined by its structure. It was precisely this that the authors of the work tried to recreate.

To do this, they carried out controlled freezing of an aqueous suspension of aluminum oxide (alumina) with the addition of a fairly common polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
The researchers reported on their achievements in the journal Science.

The roughness of hybrid ceramics also determines its strength, since it affects the process of shearing the “bricks”, and hence the dissipation of energy. The inset shows fairly large briquettes of the new material. Previously, scientists were able to obtain samples of such a strong substance only in the form of thin films. There is also a photograph taken using a scanning electron microscope showing the behavior of the material under load. The damage spreads in the form of small cracks (photo by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Their discovery was based on two-year-old work by fellow Berkeley researchers Eduardo Saiz and Antoni Tomsia.

Then scientists discovered that it was possible to create a very durable artificial replacement for human bone by freezing sea water.

This time, the chemists first also froze the water, but in order to create a matrix, which became the basis for obtaining a frame from alumina plates (lamellas) (it occupied the pores that were not filled with ice). The ice was then removed by evaporation and a polymer was introduced in its place.

The strength of a material is determined by its ability to dissipate deformation energy. In this case, the polymer between the aluminum oxide plates allows them to “slide” relative to each other and thereby distribute the load, just like the protein structures in mollusk shells do.

But chemists were able not only to create a plate frame. They were able to influence the thickness of the plates, their macroscopic orientation, chemistry and roughness of the lamella interfaces. By compressing the frame perpendicular to the layers during sintering, they also obtained “bricks” of aluminum oxide and achieved the formation and compaction of ceramic bridges between them. The ability to vary all these parameters will make it possible in the future to obtain materials with other properties, and there is a high probability that among them there will be those that will be even better than the current ones.

“We tried to imitate natural strengthening mechanisms by forcing alumina particles to line up in hierarchical structures,” says Ritchie in a press release from the laboratory. “In the future, we hope that the study of already obtained composites will allow us to improve the synthesis of lightweight non-biological materials with unique hardness and strength.”

In the future, chemists intend to obtain materials with even greater strength. They hope to achieve new and exciting results by changing the aluminum oxide/PMMA ratio to increase the ceramic content, replacing the polymer with a different one, and even replacing the entire polymer with metal.

Scientists from Berkeley believe that the metal will not only allow the plates to move relative to each other (with such dimensions this is quite feasible), but will also take on part of the load. Moreover, unlike polymer, it can operate at high temperatures.

The result will be a lightweight and durable composite material that will always find application in both the energy and transport industries, the researchers are confident. It is enough to give a simple example: many car parts made from such a composite will weigh significantly less than steel ones, which will have a positive effect on fuel consumption.

However, before the idea becomes a reality (allowing manufacturers to benefit), it will be necessary not only to improve the material itself, but also to organize its mass production.

Mother of pearl grows on the inner layer of shells. It consists of aragonite crystals. Aragonite plates refract light rays, so mother-of-pearl appears iridescent and contains all the colors of the rainbow. Shells with the most beautiful varieties of mother-of-pearl are usually found in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Pacific Islands. Dark mother-of-pearl is obtained from the shell of the sea mollusk haliotis, and white mother-of-pearl is obtained from the Indian sea pearl oyster. Products made from mother-of-pearl were worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt BC. In the East, it is used to inlay vases, screens, lacquer boxes, buttons, mirrors and other household items.

At home, it can be obtained from the scales of any fish. Making mother of pearl can be a fun chemistry experiment that your kids will enjoy. The scales of fish contain the substance guanine, from which pearlescent pigment is made. Previously, such a pigment was often used in the production of cosmetics, for example, to create pearlescent varnish. Several decades ago, pearl powder was sold in every pharmacy because it was considered beneficial to health. Carp is the best choice for obtaining pigment. Buy fish from the grocery store, scrape off the scales and place in a glass jar. Add water and start stirring the liquid with a mixer until silver hymen is visible on the scales. It should begin to separate into tiny crystals and form into a sediment at the bottom of the jar. Strain the mixture and dry the pearlescent powder.

Let's also consider how to make pearlescent watercolor from the resulting powder. This paint is well suited for children's drawings and has a magical atmosphere effect. Imagine how happy your child will be when he draws twinkling fairies or a mysterious snowy forest.

To create paint you will need water-based gum arabic (that is, acacia resin). This substance can be found in art supply stores. Also prepare the place where you will pour the finished paint. Containers from used cosmetics are good for this. A small square lip balm container works well. Very carefully pour the mother of pearl into the container. It is so light that it flies around the room at the slightest breath of wind. Add resin in a ratio of approximately four parts mother of pearl to one part resin. After mixing, the consistency should not be liquid or contain lumps. Press on top with a spoon and the paint is ready. There is another option for obtaining pearlescent paint using a purely chemical method without the use of powder. Find barium thiosulfate. Its crystals mixed with clear nail polish will give the polish a pearly color. If you add them to wood glue and apply them to a hard surface, you get a pearlescent effect.

To imitate mother-of-pearl plates when making souvenirs and decorating notebooks, you can use bone adhesive solution, sprinkled with magnesium sulfate. A mixture of fish scales and glue is applied to the layer of resulting salt crystals and covered with a gelatin solution. Artificial mother-of-pearl combines beautifully with mahogany and ivory. Jewelry made from it compliments dark skin.

Willem Kalf, Still Life with Holbein Cup, Nautilus Cup and Fruit Plate, 1678

Chinese scientists have described a method for producing artificial mother-of-pearl that is no different from natural one. The technology can also be used to synthesize other complex metamaterials that combine polymer and mineral components. The authors write about this in an article published by the magazine Science.

Mother of pearl is a natural composite material of complex structure that some types of mollusks deposit on the inner wall of the shell. It is formed by orthorhombic crystals of calcium carbonate - aragonite. Hexagonal plates of this mineral with a diameter of about 10-20 microns and a thickness of about 5 microns are laid in parallel overlapping layers, which are lined with protein and polysaccharide biopolymers, including chitin and fibroin.

This combination gives mother-of-pearl a number of valuable characteristics that are very interesting for practical use: strength, elasticity, resistance to cracking. There are various approaches to obtaining artificial mother-of-pearl: through layer-by-layer growth, self-assembly, and “freeze-casting”. However, Shu-Hong Yu and his colleagues from the University of Science and Technology of China note that none of these sophisticated technologies produce a material that can compare with natural mother-of-pearl, and “do not use the same strategy as living organisms.”

The first successful attempt to obtain mother-of-pearl by imitating the natural process of mineralization was made by Cambridge researchers back in 2012. Scientists deposited a thin layer of biopolymers on the surface of a glass substrate, formed a porous structure in them, and then immersed them in a solution containing new polymers, as well as calcium and magnesium salts in the quantities found in natural mother-of-pearl. The process was repeated over and over again to build up new layers until high-quality samples of artificial mother-of-pearl, “identical to natural”, were obtained.

Chinese scientists led by Shu-Hong Yu have simplified this approach, based on the mineralization of layers of a polymer matrix. Using freezing - the anisotropic formation of crystals when cooling a chitosan solution, the authors obtained a layered structure, which, under the influence of acetic acid, was acetylated to form a stable chitin matrix. A solution of calcium bicarbonate was pumped through it in the presence of magnesium, which was deposited in mineral layers between the layers of chitin. Finally, fibroin protein polymers were added to the material and pressed.

Having studied the resulting metamaterial, scientists confirmed its closeness to natural mother-of-pearl in different levels structures. Calcium carbonate formed aragonite crystals several large sizes, than natural, which made the mother of pearl slightly less hard. However, in general, such material retained everything beneficial features mother of pearl, including attractive appearance and resistance to microcrack growth.

Lipstick, nail polish or eye shadow look completely different if you add mother of pearl to them. It is often confused with pearls, which is not surprising since both have similar composition and origin. And yet, mother of pearl is an independent stone. It has its own characteristics, magical properties and purpose.

Not all gems come from rock. Eat decorative stones that were once part of a biological structure. Mother of pearl, like coral, amber or pearls, is one of these organic minerals. But what is mother of pearl as a mineral?

Mother of pearl is the iridescent iridescent layer inside the pearl mollusk. The German name for the stone means “mother of pearls.” And this is fair, because any shell into which a grain of sand or other foreign fragment has fallen will create a pearl.

If nothing gets inside, the layer of nacre does not envelop the grain, but grows on the walls of the mollusk.

Chemically, the mineral is calcium carbonate (CaCO3), based on carbonated lime or aragonite (85%) with an admixture of conchiolin (12%) and water (3%).

The strength of the material is low - 2.6–4.6 on the Mohs scale. Rainbow tints are created by a unique arrangement of aragonite layers, which refracts sunlight differently.

From the point of view of a gemologist, this is not a gem, but its decorative properties equate mother-of-pearl with them.

Natural stones are fragile, so they are processed only by hand by qualified craftsmen.

History of the stone

Mother of pearl has been known to people for thousands of years. It is found in the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt; a stone necklace made five thousand years BC was unearthed in Iraq.

In the East, this stone was used to decorate the walls of palaces, dishes, and household items, and white material was considered the favorite.

Ancient healers used the mineral as an antiseptic to heal wounds, and medieval ones expanded the scope of use, grinding the stone for healing tinctures and potions.

He brought more than one monk of Medieval Europe to sin. They sold particles of mother-of-pearl, in a “package” with God’s blessing, as “feathers of angel wings” to wealthy parishioners. Having quickly become rich, they abandoned monasticism in favor of secular life.

Russia became acquainted with mother-of-pearl at the end of the 17th – beginning of the 18th centuries. Churches and interiors were decorated with the mineral; the nobility was proud of its magnificent boxes and snuff boxes, decorated with iridescent material.

The Roman emperors were aware of the properties of the stone to endow its owner with wisdom and the gift of reading the thoughts of others, and Nero ordered the walls of his palace to be lined with rainbow plates.

The stone was valued by Mary Stuart and Catherine the Great, whose mother-of-pearl collection of hundreds of items is admired by visitors to the Hermitage today.

Mineral deposits and mining

Mother of pearl as a stone is not specifically sought for, but is mined along with pearls. And not from the earth’s firmament, its deposits are the water depths.

They are framed in gold, but the mother of pearl is flawless with the silver. This combination has been in fashion for centuries and, presumably, will not lose popularity.

Jewelry with mother-of-pearl organically complements both business and romantic outfits.

Stone processing includes grinding, cutting, polishing, shaping, engraving, and a whole team creates one product.