Nacre
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Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, is an organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong,
The iridescent nacre inside a nautilus shell
Nacreous shell worked into a decorative object
Electron microscopy image of a fractured surface of nacre
Fossil nautiloid shell with original iridescent nacre in fossiliferous asphaltic limestone, Oklahoma. Dated to the late Middle Pennsylvanian, which makes it by far the oldest deposit in the world with aragonitic nacreous shelly fossils.
Pinctada
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Pinctada is a genus of saltwater oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Pteriidae. These pearl oysters have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl".
Nacre
…more rarely in non-nacreous iridescence such as flame structure as is found in conch pearls. The outer layer of cultured pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. Other mollusc families that have a nacreous inner shell layer include marine gastropods such as…
Pinctada margaritifera MHNT.CON.2002.893
Opening and extracting pearls from farmed pearl oysters
Cultivated pearl oyster (from Japan Shima, Mie)