Difference between revisions of "Oyster shell"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
Shells from any marine mollusk of the family ''Ostreidae''. Edible mollusks, such as the ''Ostrea virginica'', found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay, account for most of the shells currently produced. Pearl white, a white, [[calcium%20carbonate|calcium carbonate]] pigment is made by either crushing pearls or oyster shells. Oyster shells are also crushed then calcined to produce a high grade of commercial [[lime|lime]].
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Shells from any marine mollusk of the family ''Ostreidae''. Edible mollusks, such as the ''Ostrea virginica'', found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay, account for most of the shells currently produced. Some mollusk shells, such as [[abalone]], [[oyster shell|Pearl oyster]] and mussel, have a hard iridescent inner layer.  The iridescence is caused by the interference of light waves reflected between the thin overlapping layers. Pearl white, a white, [[calcium%20carbonate|calcium carbonate]] pigment is made by either crushing pearls or oyster shells. Oyster shells are also crushed then calcined to produce a high grade of commercial [[lime|lime]].
 
[[File:1998.57-SC44151.jpg|thumb|Mosaic cuff<br>MFA# 1998.57]]
 
[[File:1998.57-SC44151.jpg|thumb|Mosaic cuff<br>MFA# 1998.57]]
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
 
coquille d'huitre (Fr.); écaille d'huitre (Fr.); concha de ostra (Port.); pearl white; oyster shell white
 
coquille d'huitre (Fr.); écaille d'huitre (Fr.); concha de ostra (Port.); pearl white; oyster shell white
 +
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Aragonite 2.TIF~FTIR (MFA)|Aragonite (HU Min. Museum 116189), 50X, 785 nm copy.tif~Raman (MFA)|aragonite.jpg~Chemical structure]]]
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== Risks ==
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* No significant hazards. 
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* ThermoFisher: [https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=AC423510025&productDescription=CALCIUM+CARBONATE+99%2BACS+2.5KG&vendorId=VN00032119&countryCode=US&language=en SDS]
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== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
 +
* Reacts with acids to evolve carbon dioxide. 
 +
* Aragonite is harder and denser than calcite 
 +
* Fracture = uneven to splinter
 +
* Luster = greasy or pearly 
 +
* Streak = white   
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* Fluorescence = variable
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* Birefringence = strong (0.155) showing interference colors
 +
* Straight extinction
  
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{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
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! scope="row"| Mohs Hardness
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| 3.5 - 4.0
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|-
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! scope="row"| Density
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| 2.93-2.95 g/ml
 +
|-
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! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 +
| 1.530 - 1.686
 +
|}
 
== Resources and Citations ==
 
== Resources and Citations ==
  

Revision as of 12:05, 24 January 2023

Native American necklace
MFA# 1985.457

Description

Shells from any marine mollusk of the family Ostreidae. Edible mollusks, such as the Ostrea virginica, found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay, account for most of the shells currently produced. Some mollusk shells, such as Abalone, Pearl oyster and mussel, have a hard iridescent inner layer. The iridescence is caused by the interference of light waves reflected between the thin overlapping layers. Pearl white, a white, Calcium carbonate pigment is made by either crushing pearls or oyster shells. Oyster shells are also crushed then calcined to produce a high grade of commercial Lime.

Mosaic cuff
MFA# 1998.57

Synonyms and Related Terms

coquille d'huitre (Fr.); écaille d'huitre (Fr.); concha de ostra (Port.); pearl white; oyster shell white

FTIR (MFA)

Aragonite 2.TIF

Raman (MFA)

Aragonite (HU Min. Museum 116189), 50X, 785 nm copy.tif

Chemical structure

Aragonite.jpg

Risks

  • No significant hazards.
  • ThermoFisher: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Reacts with acids to evolve carbon dioxide.
  • Aragonite is harder and denser than calcite
  • Fracture = uneven to splinter
  • Luster = greasy or pearly
  • Streak = white
  • Fluorescence = variable
  • Birefringence = strong (0.155) showing interference colors
  • Straight extinction
Mohs Hardness 3.5 - 4.0
Density 2.93-2.95 g/ml
Refractive Index 1.530 - 1.686

Resources and Citations

  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 132

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