Purple mussel pearl found by youth

[chevy4jay]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can tell me if this is a Quahog pearl. Below are pictures of the shell it was found in & also the pearl. While swimming in a river, my 17 year old son stepped on it. The pearl is a deep lavendar tone.

My son is very excited for any information.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi,

This looks like a bluefer (Potamilus purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) a widespread shell native to the American interior lowlands) which is a nacreous (pearly) shell. This would make your pearl a natural U.S. freshwater pearl and rarer than a quahog.

Zeide

 

[Satine De La Courcel]

Very nice find!

 

[Caitlin]

This incredible shell does not look like any quahog I have seen. Look at that purple! It's phenomenal!

But here is a thread about quahogs and their primary use as wampum. Also here is a picture of the inside of a quahog shell. As you can see it has a purple rim and white center. Never saw one that didn't have the white center. Also the shade of purple is quite different. And it is not iridescent in any case

Please tell us where son stepped on this! Lucky young man. He should wear it around his neck on a sinew string or a chain. And no giving it to girlfriends to wear, either!

 

[chevy4jay]

Thanks to everyone for the comments & information. My son is so exited about the responses so far!!! He found it at the Leaf River in the Petal, Mississippi area. Any other information on this type of pearl would be great.....he is checking the postings very often LOL

 

[Caitlin]

I've been looking for pitures of Potimilus purpuratus. So far your son's is the most beautiful color I have seen, though Google Images had an incredible iridescent bright pink example of the shell.
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-15,GGLD:en&sa=N
Above page is the source for below image and a great many more great shells. Also, here is the site map page. These folks are "Save the Clams" activists, so visit their pages and link to them, if you can.
http://members.aol.com/mkohl1/Sitemap.html
A dire need to save the clams in America exists. We have more species of clams that would bear incredible pearls in many natural colors in this country than anywhere else in the world. Overfishing destroyed the industry before it ever got going as a sustainable crop.

Even if we don't grow them commercially, just giving them a helping hend in their native environments is of extreme importance. We have other articles on this site that discuss past and present stealing and plundering of these helpess little mussels, by large commercial enterprises- for the shellls alone, because the shells are a valuable resourse for pearl nucleii for the akoya cultured pearl industry.

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Caitlin,

Do you now see why I recommended the bluefer for your black freshwater pearl culturing project? You should see a deertoe pearl! Of all the white pearls in the world, I think the deertoe produces some of the most enchanting. The bluefer is one of the greatest in purple.

Zeide

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Zeide
I spaced out. I was going to tell you that this is the one I want in my backyard mussel pond. And chevy4jay has quite the prettiest mussel shell I ever saw!

But what is the scientific name for the deertoe?

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Caitlin,

The deertoe is truncilla truncata (Rafinesque, 1820). It has an almost unearthly glow.

Zeide

 

[chevy4jay]

Follow up.....

Follow up.....

Hello every one!

We wanted to again thank you for your replies & info about the (as we now know) freshwater pearl my son found.

He took the pearl to a local jeweler & had it mounted in a setting. When he found the pearl, his girlfriend was with him & he is giving it to her tonight for a birthday gift. (pictured below)

Thanks again!!!!

 

[effisk]

Nice setting for a very unique pearl. Your son's girlfriend is lucky!

thanks for coming back and for sharing the pic.

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi,

That is one impressive birthday gift. Too bad your son is too young for me and already taken anyway.

Zeide

 

[Satine De La Courcel]

What a pretty setting, What a great birthday gift! and an impressive goft from your son.!!!!


Zeide,

LOL.. Craddle robber...


Ash

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Ash,

No, really I am not. My husband is 10 years older than I am and I have always preferred men much older than I am. It was just the feeling that this natural pearl may be slipping away from me.

Zeide

 

[Satine De La Courcel]

Zeide,


LOL...... you mean somone got to/found a pearl before you did....

Haha.....

All kidding aside... the ring is really very beautiful! I hope it is worn with pride! But then again I love purple and gold together!

Cheers

Ash

 

[Susan]

Ash
What a lovely thoughtful boy you have there. Was his girlfriend thrilled with her present? - hope she realises she already had a pearl of her own to start with.

Susan