polished paua
paua, peridot, & blue chalcedony choker
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| composition | calcium carbonate |
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| name source | native M�ori word |
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| other accepted names | sea ear, orielle de mer, abalone; haliotis iris from the Greek hals, meaning "sea" and otos, meaning "ear" |
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| folkloric aliases | sea opal |
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| color | nacre-formed iridescence |
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| color source | caused by light being refracted within the crystal layers of the shell |
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| significant sources | waters of New Zealand |
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| MOH scale | 2.5 |
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| care and treatment | Paua is a soft organic substance which can easily get scratched. Clean with a mild soap. Do not expose to harsh detergents or chemicals. Do not clean in ultra sonic jewelry cleaner. |
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