Deep sea red coral
Composition of calcareous coral: mainly composed of inorganic components (calcium carbonate 82%-87%, magnesium carbonate 6%-7%), organic components and water.
The main component of horny coral is almost mainly composed of organic matter (horny), with little or no calcium carbonate content.
Black coral and golden coral belong to horny type, others are calcareous type.
Black coral
Because of the different components, their performance will be very different. Please continue reading, which will be introduced later.
Calcareous corals are
1. Red coral is a rare coral (light pink to deep red), mainly composed of calcite, with a small amount of keratin and organic acids.
2. White coral, the main mineral component is aragonite.
3. The color of blue coral varies from light blue to blue, and the number is very small.
Gloss and transparency: wax-like luster is the main luster, and the polished surface with high quality after polishing is glass luster, slightly transparent or opaque.
Hardness: Mohs hardness 3-4
Density: calcareous type 2.60-2.70/cm3, horny type 1.30- 1.50/cm3.
It should be noted that calcareous corals will be corroded by acid and turn black under high temperature flame.
Red coral has been used as precious jewelry and royal tribute since ancient times because of its beautiful and lasting color and charming luster after polishing.
Buddhists in India and Tibetan areas believe that red coral is the incarnation of Tathagata, and red coral is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism.
Deep sea red coral
The growth of red coral is very slow, and it takes 10- 12 years from the attachment of coral larvae to sexual maturity.
The requirements for the growth environment are very high, basically in the clean low-temperature deep sea.
Due to collection and environmental pollution, the ecology of almost all red coral producing areas has been destroyed, and resources are becoming increasingly scarce. Four of them have been listed in the appendix of CITES.
Red coral branch
In the domestic jewelry market, corals are generally divided into Aka (Sea of Japan and Sea of Taiwan Province Province), Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea) and Momo (mainly in the waters around Taiwan Province Province) by origin and color.
The most expensive is Aka, the most abundant and full red, followed by Sardinia, most of which are light and tender.
Rare natural yellow coral
Purple calcareous corals are very rare.
Deep sea purple coral
Maintenance of calcareous coral jewelry
This kind of jewelry is easily dissolved by acidic liquid because of its composition (more than 80% is calcium carbonate), and it should also be kept away from cosmetics and detergents with complex chemical composition. Fluorine in tap water is also harmful to it. After wearing, clean soft cloth should be wetted with distilled water or purified water and wiped clean.
In addition, the hardness of coral is relatively low, far lower than other jewelry, and it is easy to scratch, so it should be stored separately and properly kept.
It is not recommended to wipe anything except oil or wax special for coral, because there are tiny pores on the surface of coral, which are easy to absorb dirt.
A precious gem coral that most people have never heard of, you should know, Encyclopedia (2)
Rare corals that occasionally appear in jewelry markets at home and abroad include natural blue corals, black corals and golden corals.
Black coral
Calcareous corals are mainly composed of inorganic substances, with calcium carbonate content of 82-87%, magnesium carbonate content of 6-7% and only a small amount of organic matter.
Horny corals, on the other hand, are mostly organic horny with little or no calcium carbonate. therefore
1, calcium coral drops of dilute hydrochloric acid will produce many bubbles, while horny coral has no bubbles.
2. Under the high temperature flame, calcareous corals will only turn black, while horny corals will give off the burnt smell of protein.
3. The density of calcareous coral is 2.60-2.70g/cm3, and that of horny coral is1.30-1.50g/cm3.
Black coral (also known as black coral)
Black coral is an old-timer in the coral world, with an annual growth rate of only a few millimeters at most. What's more, there is no algae in its coral, so it grows in the deep sea with almost no light.
Black coral
Please note that all black corals are endangered species and are protected by Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Washington Convention).
The situation in the United States is that it is a crime to smuggle, transport and bring black corals into the United States without the legal license (license certificate) of the Washington Convention. The United States fined a company in the Virgin Islands $4 million for black coral. Therefore, children's shoes going abroad must first understand the situation of the country they are going to.
At present, black corals are mostly found in the waters around Indonesia. Indonesia's national language is Akabaha, and Bali dialect is Kayuli, which is regarded as a sacred tree under the sea and a sacred object to ward off evil spirits. Bake and bend a piece of black coral branch into a bracelet, then cool it with cold water to shape it and make it into a bracelet to wear. Generally, children's shoes can't be bought, and they are still pestering priests or nobles.
The color is golden yellow or tan. The number is also very rare, and it grows in the deep sea, which is very difficult to collect.
The biggest feature of golden coral is that the polished surface will show a silky luster under different angles of light.
Although golden coral is also very rare, it is impossible to determine whether it is listed as an endangered species according to the current data.
Although these precious corals are very beautiful, rare and of high value, their growth and survival are so difficult. Here, I borrow a sentence: "Doing nothing is harmless", so it is good to understand and appreciate them.