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Mother of Pearl

By , About.com Guide

Definition: Mother of pearl is the common name for iridescent nacre, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting their bodies from parasites and foreign objects.

A pearl grows when mother of pearl surrounds and builds layers around an object that's inserted in she shell by nature or humans.

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Also Known As: nacre, MOP

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