How are pearls creTed

Pearls are created by certain types of mollusks, primarily oysters, mussels, and certain types of clams. The process of pearl formation begins when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, a parasite, or a piece of shell, becomes trapped inside the mollusk. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how pearls are formed: 1. **Irritant Entry**: The irritant penetrates the mollusk’s shell and comes into contact with the mantle, the organ responsible for shell production. 2. **Nacre Secretion**: To protect itself from the irritant, the mollusk secretes layers of a substance called nacre (also known as mother of pearl). Nacre is composed of aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate) and conchiolin (an organic protein). 3. **Layering**: The mollusk continues to secrete nacre over time, layering it around the irritant. This layering occurs continuously, leading to the formation of a pearl. 4. **Maturation**: Over a period of time, which can range from several months to years, the layers of nacre build up around the irritant, resulting in the development of a pearl. There are two main types of pearls: - **Natural Pearls**: These form without any human intervention in the wild. - **Cultured Pearls**: These are formed with human assistance, where a technician intentionally introduces an irritant into the mollusk to stimulate pearl production. The quality, size, shape, and color of the pearl can vary significantly based on the type of mollusk, the environment in which it lives, and various other factors.