CaCO₃
Mother-of-pearl
Buttons and inlay took the lining of the shell, aragonite in thin sheets, long before plastic.
- Formula
- CaCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5–4
- Crystal system
- organic
- Colour
- white, many-coloured
- Element
- water
- Chakra (tradition)
- sacral
- Zodiac
- Cancer, Pisces
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- Australia, Japan, Philippines
What it actually is
Mother-of-pearl is CaCO₃ before it is a story. The lattice is organic, Mohs 2.5–4, and the eye meets white, many-coloured.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Australia, Japan, Philippines. Buttons and inlay took the lining of the shell, aragonite in thin sheets, long before plastic.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Mother-of-pearl to water and to the sacral centre. The old site stood it near: Cancer, Pisces.
How not to turn it to ash
Amber, pearl, coral and jet fear perfume, alcohol, ultrasonics and a sunny sill. Take them off before you wash.