Mother of Pearl
Calcium carbonate (aragonite, calcite) with organic substance (conchiolin)
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Other Names/Trade Names: | |
| Physical Properties of Mother of Pearl | |
| Mohs Hardness | 2.5 to 4.5, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Specific Gravity | 2.65 to 2.87, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Optical Properties of Mother of Pearl | |
| Refractive Index | 1.53 to 1.69, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Birefringence | 0.16, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Chatoyancy | Yes, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Colour | |
| Colour (General) | White, gray, silvery, golden yellow, yellow, blue-green, bronze colour, rose-pink, red, brown, black. Partly banded, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Transparency | Opaque, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
| Lustre | Pearly, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) |
| Further Information | |
| Mineral information: | Mother of Pearl information at mindat.org |