How are pearls formed in oysters?

Pearls

Pearls are expensive precious stones, and they are used in the manufacture of various ornaments and jewelry, and they are formed inside the shells of mollusk marine organisms such as oysters, by placing them in basins within private farms, and it is noteworthy that East Asian countries are among the most pioneering countries in this industry, such as : China, Japan, in addition to some other countries, such as Australia and Tahiti, and in this article we will introduce you to how pearls are formed.

Pearls occur naturally in oysters

Oysters consist of a special substance that covers the inner sides of the shell, and it is known as the pearly layer that is produced by the coat, which is one of the cells that make up the organs that make up the fleshy animal that lives inside the shell, where the pearly layer is characterized by its bright and beautiful color. One of the parasitic organisms into the animal’s body, which begins to secrete mother-of-pearl or what is called crystalline calcium carbonate to cover these strange pieces, and with the accumulation of layers on top of each other, pearls will be formed, and it is worth mentioning that the layers of pearls stick together by secreting a solid organic substance, known as In the name of Konquelin.

Pearls are formed in oysters in private farms

The cultivation of pearls was discovered by the Japanese scientist Mikomoto, where farmers previously extracted oysters from the sea, then killed them to extract this precious stone. The following are two cultivation methods:

• Freshwater farming:
  • Collecting mussels in special ponds.
  • Take care of these sea creatures from the farmers, until they get used to the new environment.
  • Motivating mussels to produce pearls, through a special process.
  • Return mussels to freshwater aquaria.
  • Waiting until the pearls are formed, and here it is indicated that the process may require a period ranging from several months to a few years.
  • Extracting pearls from oysters, polishing and cleaning them, and then offering them for sale.
• Cultivation in salt water:
  • Placing oysters in ponds on private farms.
  • Taking good care of oysters and stimulating them to produce pearls.
  • Separate the small oysters from the large ones, so that the small ones are placed in special ponds until they grow up, while the large ones are returned to the salty sea water.
  • Leave the oysters in the water for at least three years.
  • Extracting pearls, polishing them, and then selling them.

Note: Pearls extracted from salt water are better and better than pearls extracted from fresh water.

Obstacles to pearl cultivation

• Oysters do not withstand, and they die if they are exposed to bad weather conditions, such as rain and cold winds.
• The possibility of the ponds being exposed to the problem of pollution, due to the leakage of industrial waste into them, or not maintaining their cleanliness, which also leads to the death of oysters.