Precious beads meerschaum is a soft, white mineral, also known as sepiolite. This gemstone comes from the class of sheet silicates. The crystal system is monoclinic and it is composed from hydrated magnesium silicate. Precious beads meerschaum is found as compact, dense masses, which have a chalky or earthy appearance. The source of its name is disputed, most think it is named for the German word for “sea forth,” but another possible source is the term mertscavon, used by Levantine traders. Precious beads meerschaum was named sepiolite by the mineralogist E.F. Glocker-largely because of its resemblance to the bones of the sepia squid (cuttlefish). The colors are available of ivory-white, cream-yellow, light tan, gray, pinkish, or greenish.
Precious beads meerschaum as uncommon natural gemstones is normally used to fashion pipes, including hookah mouthpieces, cigarette holders, jewelry beads, boxes (which can be both smooth and carved), small carvings (such as eggs and chess pieces), and thimbles. The refractive index is 1.53 (spot). The specific gravity of precious beads meerschaum is about 2, but try material may float on water. The luster of precious beads meerschaum is dull to earthy white its fracture is conchoidal. It is soft enough to be easily carved, making it a popular material for this purpose. Precious beads meerschaum has perfect cleavage and the hardness ended at level 2.Carvings are then dried in a kiln and often waxed. Many precious beads meerschaum carvings are incredibly intricate, and valued as objects d’art. Both of the dispersion and the birefringence are not applicable. The habit is claylike nodules.
Precious beads meerschaum is an opaque mineral, normally pale in hue, with whites, grays, or creams being most popular. It breaks with a conchoidal or fine, almost crumbly fracture, and occasionally though rarely, it is fibrous in consistency. Its hardness is very low (about two), and it can be easily scratched with a nail. Most commercial precious beads meerschaum is found in Turkey-in particular from the plain of Eskisehir. Its source is alluvial deposits, where it occurs in knobbly, irregular masses, from which it is extracted. Other sources of precious beads meerschaum are Greece, France, Czech Republic, Spain, Morocco, and the USA.
