V
Five o'clock shadow ... Is that you, GemGeek?!
I'd isolate the pearl, put it under glass, and look to see if it sprouts some more tufts of whatever that is. If it does, then it may just be Morgellon's. Either you will have to incinerate it, or if you are brave, see if time will give you a completely "fuzzy" pearl. Handle with extreme care and under no circumstance should the pearl be found "cute". Remember the "tribbles" from Star Trek? Imagine what could happen if all the pearls at PP became infected and started mating?
Slraep