Class Bivalves (Bivalvia). Pearl oysters Features of the external structure of the European pearl oyster

And where is it mined? This is definitely not a mineral or a natural stone. These are deposits inside a sea oyster or in river shells, covered with mother-of-pearl. There are freshwater and sea pearls.

How to distinguish river pearls from sea pearls, how much do jewelry made from natural pearls cost, does it have magical properties and who is it suitable for? You will learn about all this from the article.

What are natural pearls and what are they like?

Let's start with the fact that natural pearls cannot be completely identical. First of all, these are beads different colors, ranging from white pearlescent to black and even pink. Secondly, the sizes and shapes differ.

How to check naturalness? Pay attention to the quality of the surface. If these are natural pearls, then they necessarily have a rough surface, are quite heavy and cool.

Which pearls are more valuable - river and sea pearls, are there any differences or are they far-fetched? From the name it becomes clear that sea pearls are formed in the sea, in salt water. River - in mollusks from freshwater.

Unlike sea beads, river beads are more affordable. The reason is simple. The process of cultivating beads in freshwater rivers takes less time. In the mantle of mollusks, 12-20 beads are grown at once, while no more than two or three foreign bodies can be introduced into a sea oyster.

How much does a natural pearl cost on average? It all depends on the shape, size, cultivation method. The price can range from several hundred dollars to several tens of thousands.

Production in Russia yesterday and today

Once upon a time, Russian pearls became famous throughout the world. There was so much of it that there was enough for everyone, including for export. Delicate natural beads were used to decorate royal clothes and crowns, icons and kokoshniks, and the wedding dresses of noble ladies could not do without them.

Freshwater pearls, black, silver, white, and even with a greenish tint, were actively used in Russia to create designer jewelry. At that time they were:

• earrings;
• rings;
• necklace;
• bracelets;
• beads;
• brooches, etc.

The most valuable material was considered to be extracted from Karelian rivers. Pearls from this area had a unique bluish and silvery glow. It is noteworthy that a lady with any level of income could afford a bracelet or pendant with natural pearls. The jewelry of both the queen and simple fisher girls, each of which had several threads, was equally highly valued.

The uniqueness of products in Russia in the 19th century is mentioned in the description of the visit to the Nizhny Novgorod province of a German researcher. He wrote about how much he was amazed by the beauty of the whitish or yellow, soft blue and even black jewelry worn by Russian women. The higher the lady's position, the more items she wore. This made an indelible impression on the foreigner.

In those days, the mother of Russian pearls was the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Dozens of provinces traded on pearl rivers. These are Arkhangelsk, Siberian, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, etc. Shellfish production was especially active in Karelia and on the Kola Peninsula.

Not so often, but Margaritifera margaritifera was found in the Moscow region. In which rivers were shellfish harvested? The pearl mussel was found in the basin of the Dnieper, Amur and tributaries of the Volga. In total, there were up to 150 pearl-bearing rivers in the country, half of which were used for fishing on a large scale. A third of the production at that time came from the provinces in the northern part of the country.

Today in Russia they do not figure out which pearls are best in the country; they are mined mainly on an experimental basis in Karelia. Every year the state treasury is replenished with hundreds of pearls of the highest quality.

How are pearls mined these days? More than 25 years ago, they began to use delicate methods of influencing mollusks with partial opening of the valves, allowing them to be left alive. Near the Northern capital there is a reserve for the protection of fish of the salmon family and mollusks. In 2006, research work was carried out on its territory for the presence of margaritane. Several populations of no more than a few dozen adults were discovered.

Are there pearl mussels today in the previously “prolific” Novgorod region? So far, mollusks have been found only in one river, and the number of individuals is no more than a thousand; all of them are on the verge of extinction due to replacement by less demanding conditions. environment pearl barley.

So what is the difference between past centuries and modern times, why did the country's pearl reserves dry up? It's all about the salmon. There is too much demand for them. Pearl mussels can only exist in rivers where salmon live. After all, larvae develop on their gills.

Is there a possibility that the mining industry will be revived at its previous level?

Work is underway to revive it. To do this, they are establishing the process of breeding salmon and protecting freshwater rivers suitable for the life and development of pearl mussels.

What is the difference between freshwater pearls and sea pearls?

Returning to the topic of differences, including from the photo, between sea and river pearls, let’s determine the main points:

1. Shine. Sea pearls at daylight emit a brighter glow, while the river bead appears dull and almost matte in comparison.
2. Form. Freshwater pearls, like natural stones, by the way, have an irregular shape. Sea beads also rarely have ideal parameters, but still look more neat. In addition, river beads are often oval-shaped, while sea beads are predominantly round.
3. Price. Important difference. Sea pearls are always more expensive than river pearls. Why? This was mentioned above.
4. Nacre. Another significant indicator. Sea beads have a thinner coating, on average from 0.5 to 6 mm. This explains the abrasions that occur over time. Freshwater pearls are made almost entirely of mother-of-pearl, which means they last longer and require minimal care.

You can also distinguish between freshwater and sea pearls by analyzing their sizes. Freshwater specimens are usually smaller than marine specimens. Previously, cultured freshwater pearls were grown for several years, which negatively affected the quality of the coating, shape, and, of course, size. Not long ago, the growing period was extended to 6 years, which made it possible to correct the situation and achieve almost complete identity of pearls with sea pearls in shape and size.

The magical properties of freshwater pearls

People have believed in the magic of natural river pearls since the first acquaintance with them. It was believed that mother-of-pearl products would help one live happily ever after and reward the owner with strength of spirit and body.

Psychics confirm the powerful energy of pearls, claiming that people of any age can wear jewelry with them with equal benefit.

Many believe in the properties of freshwater pearls to attract love; they are sincerely convinced that products with mother-of-pearl beads will help you meet your soulmate and live happily ever after with them for many years.

There are also some signs regarding freshwater pearls. It is believed that they should not be owned by people with a nomadic lifestyle, as well as families with small children.

Who is suitable for pearl jewelry?

So, who can wear freshwater pearls? Astrologers recommend wearing jewelry for representatives of the water signs of the zodiac. That is, the beads will feel most harmonious in life:

• Rakov;
• Scorpios;
• Aquarius.

Other signs (do not forget that beads are intended more for the female half of humanity) can also wear pearls, but without much hope for an energetic relationship.

The exception is black river pearls. It is recommended to be worn by strong signs Leo and Aries for peace of mind and tranquility.

How to clean pearls at home and how to store them

Natural freshwater pearls are stronger than sea pearls, but they are not stone; they are vulnerable and subject to destruction over time. To extend the life of mother-of-pearl beads, you need to follow simple rules operation, provide gentle and regular care.

For example, to maintain the shine of a pearl, you need to clean it from time to time. Under no circumstances should this be done with cleaning agents or vinegar. The latter will corrode the layers of mother-of-pearl and will be certain death for the jewelry (some people use it to check whether pearls are real or not).

Clean products with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Before storing in a box (kept separately), the pearls are allowed to dry and rubbed thoroughly.

How to care for pearls

How to care for pearls folk recipes? Potato starch or a teaspoon of salt diluted in a glass of water will help. They replace soap solution.

A separate box for storing pearl jewelry is not enough. For a complete set, take care of the accompanying protective fabrics. It can be:

• silk;
• atlas.

It is important that the materials are not only natural, but also unpainted. Is heat dangerous for pearls? It happens, so take care of the beads from drying out in the summer, store them next to a glass of water. And also, if you do not want to shorten the life of your pearl jewelry, never store it hanging without a case or box.

You have learned what freshwater pearls look like and how they differ from sea pearls; now you definitely can’t go wrong when purchasing products. Share the article with your friends! See you again!

Team LyubiKamni

Local historians in local museums of the Russian North proudly talk about Russian river pearls, which were once used to decorate everything most expensive - from royal crowns and icon frames to dresses and kokoshniks of wealthy peasant women. The same pearls were used in abundance in jewelry - earrings, rings and necklaces. Were all these pearls really local?

Pearl fishing and pearl sewing once flourished in the north-west of Russia; a considerable part of the local residents lived there - pearl miners, jewelers and seamstresses. Pearl sewing has been reliably known since the 10th century, although, apparently, it appeared (along with the craft) much earlier. Pearls were mined in the rivers of the Novgorod, Arkhangelsk and Olonets provinces, which included part of the territory of Karelia. There is evidence that for many centuries Russia was in first place in the extraction of river pearls. Suffice it to say that the coat of arms granted to the Karelian city of Kem in 1788 by Catherine the Great includes a pearl wreath on a blue (water) field, and the export of Russian pearls abroad in 1860 was estimated at 182 thousand rubles. At that time - a huge amount of money (about a billion at current prices).

But in the second half of the 19th century there was a catastrophic drop in the number of pearls mined, and its collection became the property of individual miners. This process began much earlier, but answering the question of why Russian pearls disappeared turned out to be not so simple. After several years of searching, we figured out this problem in general terms and learned a lot of interesting things. We were not interested in pearls in themselves, but its carrier, a bivalve mollusk - the European (common, freshwater) pearl oyster Margaritifera margaritifera - turned out to be very remarkable in many respects. The study of this mollusk touches on problems of zoology, ecology, and ichthyology. And even, oddly enough, gerontology and medicine - since pearl mussels can live for more than a hundred years, they tried to find the secrets of longevity with their help (though the latter had no more to do with science than treating erectile dysfunction with crushed rhinoceros horn).

Source of Russian pearls

Pearl mussel with city registration

In one of the dacha suburbs of St. Petersburg in 1996, a reserve was created for the purpose of protecting salmon fish and pearl oysters. However, information about how many pearl mussels there are and whether they are there at all was very uncertain. 10 years after the creation of the reserve, it was not at all known whether the mollusk was preserved in it. In 2006, the management of the protected areas asked us to check if margaritifera was there. We started looking for her and eventually found her. It turned out that there are very few pearl mussels in the rivers there - a maximum of several dozen individuals.

After the rediscovery of pearl mussels in the reserve, we found several more of their populations in the Leningrad region, including near St. Petersburg. It is curious that some of them actually live near the city, that is, under conditions of strong anthropogenic pressure. At the same time, it is known that pearl mussels are dying out in most of their range, that is, in European countries, where great efforts are made to preserve nature. Why is this happening?

It turned out that in a neat and economical Western Europe life for pearl mussels is usually much worse. Behind the cleanliness and order maintained by humans often lies the complete destruction of the natural habitat. If a forest grows near the river bank, then it is exploited like this: everything is completely cut down to the very edge of the water, not only the trunks are disposed of, but also branches with leaves, then they are planted coniferous trees, or the area is left for a short time for natural renewal. Later, the grown deciduous trees are cut down, leaving a monoculture of pine or spruce. In addition, this area is being dug up with drainage canals. If a meadow approaches the shore, then it is regularly mowed to the very edge of the water, as soon as the grass grows a little. As a result, very little detritus, which pearl mussels need for nutrition, is washed into the rivers, and the water is acidified by pine needles. The banks that are not strengthened by roots are washed away, a lot of sand and clay gets into the water, so the rivers become shallow. Often they are also straightened and cleared, turning them into channels. Long-established private ownership of land allows this.

In Russia, traces of such activity can be traced on the Karelian Isthmus - on territory that in the past belonged to Finland. One of the rivers in which pearl mussels were preserved suffered from this - part of the riverbed was straightened and cleared of boulders. After the war, the river was partially restored, but several straightened sections are still extremely poorly populated by aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, in general, the rivers remain alive, the surviving pearl mussels in them do not suffer from hunger or acidification, and therefore survive and reproduce. And although the European order is beginning to come into fashion here too, all this is still going slowly and has little effect on the habitats of pearl mussels.

Loss of Novgorod pearls

After, as scientists say, the rediscovery of pearl mussels in the Leningrad region, we decided to go to our neighbors, in the Novgorod region. After a long search, we finally found margaritifera in just one river, and not in large quantities. At the same time, the archives indicate at least 20 rivers in which pearls were mined in the time of Peter the Great. Unfortunately, there are no pearl mussels in them for a long time. It is possible that it was during the Peter the Great period that the Novgorod pearl mussel populations suffered greatest damage- after all, pearls were ordered to be collected and handed over to the state. At first, everything that could be extracted was extracted from the rivers, but later their habitat began to deteriorate, and the population did not recover. Pearls come across several hundred in one shell, and “jewelry” ones are even rarer. The total number of Novgorod pearl mussels hardly exceeds a thousand. And this population appears to be dying out. Instead of pearl mussels, thick pearl mussels (Unio crassus) - another type of bivalve mollusk - were found in Novgorod rivers. Both species are similar in many ways and occasionally coexist. Just such a rare case was found in the only surviving population. It seems that one species is being replaced by another. The point, of course, is not a matter of displacement (there would be enough space for both), but that the environment has changed and become more suitable for thick pearl barley. It is possible that this process is currently occurring in the surviving population, but has already completed in other rivers.

Young thick pearl mussels, unlike pearl mussels, live in the ground not 5-10 years, but only 1-2 years. They do not dig deep, and they do not need a thick layer of well-washed and aerated soil - coarse sand or fine gravel. They can also live in clay soil. Another difference is that thick pearl barley lives in water with greater hardness. This means that the content of fine soil particles and the concentration of salts in the rivers increased, that is, a large volume of clayey, salt-rich soil was washed away from the surrounding area. Over hundreds of years of development of these territories, a lot of forest was cut down, and the exploitation of clayey and carbonate-rich soils led to the washing of huge amounts of clay into the rivers, their shallowing and the destruction of the habitat of young pearl mussels.

After the collapse Soviet Union the economy of the Novgorod region was destroyed. Many houses and entire villages are abandoned, and if they are used, they are only used as summer cottages. Rivers are usually surrounded by trees and appear quite normal. Maybe someday they will be “washed back”, but this is very doubtful. Even pristine rivers themselves undergo evolution and, in a sense, “grow old,” and after such an accelerated aging, which was arranged for them economic activity, are unlikely to return to their “young” state.

True, in our country there are several dozen more rivers where Margaritifera margaritifera lives and reproduces. Moreover, in several of them the population size of these mollusks is measured in millions of individuals. These are the largest remaining populations on the planet. But nature is fragile. And the only way to preserve the mollusk is to leave untouched the unique rivers in which Margaritifera, the keeper of Russian pearls, lives.

Photo: DIOMEDIA (X3), JOEL BERGLUND (CC-BY-SA)

In which the lateral teeth are reduced and the gills are not fused on the dorsal side.

The shell of the common pearl mussel is massive and thick-walled, the tops of its valves are usually eaten away. The length of the shell is usually up to 12 centimeters. The mother-of-pearl layer on the inner surface of the doors is shiny white.

Where does the pearl oyster live?

The common pearl mussel lives in small rivers in the north of Russia: in Karelia, on the Kola Peninsula, in the Arkhangelsk region, and is sometimes found in the rivers of the Valdai Upland.

The modern range of pearl mussels has been greatly reduced, since they are very demanding on the purity of water and the oxygen content in it. These mollusks disappeared from rivers polluted by wastewater from cities and factories, timber rafting, and died under the influence of changes in the chemical composition of waters and swamping of many areas. Pearl mussel stocks are difficult to restore due to the slow growth of these animals. In the first year of life, pearl mussels reach 0.5 centimeters, in the fifth year - 2 centimeters, by 7-8 years - 3-4 centimeters, and in the tenth year of life - 6 centimeters, then giving an annual increase of about 1 millimeter. The largest shells of pearl oysters are 12-13 centimeters long and are about 70 years old.

freshwater pearls

Since ancient times, pearl mussels have been mined for the sake of river pearls, which are formed in the mantle cavity of these mollusks. How are pearls formed? When any foreign body, such as a grain of sand, gets between the shell valve and the adjacent mantle of the mollusk, it has an irritating effect on the tissue of the mollusk, and the skin of the mantle begins to secrete a hardening pearlescent substance. In fact, the same mother-of-pearl that forms the inner layer of the shell is released. A grain of sand is overgrown with mother-of-pearl on all sides, and a small pearl is obtained. The pearl grows as the mollusk grows. Since these animals grow very slowly, pearls also grow slowly: in 12 years it can grow into a pea, and reach a size of 8 millimeters in 30-40 years.

Freshwater pearls have always been highly valued. Ancient chronicles say that pearl embroidery has been known since the 10th century, but it probably existed even earlier. At the royal and patriarchal sewing courts there were special workshops where craftswomen wove precious lace and decorated clothes with pearl threads. In those days, even horse blankets were embroidered with pearls. Pearls were widely used in the clothing of wealthy women; girls wove pearl threads into their braids. For the first time, the protection of pearl mussels began under Peter I. To avoid the devastation of pearl mussel settlements, the tsar wrote a special decree prohibiting the fishing of young mollusks. Even more attention began to be paid to pearl fishing under Empress Elizabeth. The rivers where pearl mussels were caught were strictly guarded. Pearl mining was carried out at government expense. However, the state monopoly on pearls brought great losses to the treasury and was soon abolished.

Private pearl fishing began, which led to a significant reduction in the number of these very slow-growing mollusks. Currently, all species of our freshwater pearl mussels have become rare or are on the verge of extinction and are recommended for inclusion in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

On Far East There are several species of pearl mussels living in Russia, for example, the Daurian pearl mussel, which lives in the Amur basin. The shell of this species is large (10-17 centimeters) with whitish-pink mother-of-pearl. Middendorf's pearl mussel is common in Kamchatka, its shell is no more than 8-9 centimeters long, the mother-of-pearl is whitish-pink or red (the color of salmon). The Sakhalin pearl mussel is found in the mountain rivers of southern Sakhalin and the southern islands of the Kuril ridge. It has a large shell (10-12 centimeters), the mother-of-pearl layer of which is pink, red or purple. All these species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Pearl mussels are more primitive relatives of pearl mussels. In pearl mussels, the lateral teeth are reduced, and the gills on the dorsal side are not fused.

Common pearl mussels have thick, massive shells; the shell length is usually 12 centimeters. Often the tops of the shells are eaten away. On the inside, the shell has a pearlescent layer of brilliant white hue.

Where does the pearl oyster live?

Pearl mussels live in small rivers in northern Russia: on the Kola Peninsula, in Karelia, in the Arkhangelsk region, and are sometimes found in the Valdai Hills.

Common pearl mussels, unlike pearl mussels, do not live even in slightly silted soil; they settle on a fine rocky or sandy bottom, and the water should be clear, rich in oxygen and of moderate temperature. In some reservoirs they are found in large numbers: on 1 square meter there may be up to 50 mollusks.

Most pearl mussels are found on river rapids, under stones that reduce the strength of the current. In such places, about 16-20 individuals can accumulate on one stone at a time.

Today, the habitat of common pearl mussels has been significantly reduced, since these creatures are very demanding about the cleanliness of water bodies and the oxygen content in them. These mollusks cannot be found in urban rivers polluted by sewage, in rivers near which there are factories, since they change chemical composition water. The habitat of pearl mussels is also shrinking due to swamping of many areas.

It is extremely difficult to restore the population, this is due to the slow growth of these mollusks. Pearl mussels reach only 0.5 centimeters in the 1st year of life, by the 5th year they grow to 2 centimeters, by the 7-8th year - to 3-4 centimeters, they reach 6 centimeters only by 10 1st year of life, and then annually increase in size by only 1 millimeter. The shell length of the largest specimens is only 12-13 centimeters, while their age reaches about 70 years.

freshwater pearls

At all times, these mollusks were mined for river pearls, which grow in the mantle cavity of the body of these creatures. How are freshwater pearls formed? If a foreign body, for example a grain of sand, penetrates between the valves of a mollusk, it irritates the tissues of the mollusk, resulting in the release of a hardening pearlescent substance from the skin. In other words, the same mother-of-pearl from which the inner layer of the shell is formed is released. A grain of sand is covered with mother-of-pearl on all sides, thus forming a small pearl. As the mollusk grows, the pearl inside it also grows, and since the growth of these mollusks is very slow, therefore, the pearl increases in size extremely slowly: it turns into a pea in about 12 years, and by 30-40 years of the mollusk’s life , it reaches a size of 8 millimeters.

Freshwater pearls have always had high commercial value. It is known from ancient chronicles that pearl embroidery was practiced back in the 10th century, but most likely it existed much earlier. At the royal courts there were specialized workshops in which craftswomen were engaged in weaving precious lace from pearls. In tsarist times, even horse blankets were embroidered with pearls. The clothes of wealthy ladies were strewn with pearls, and young girls wove strands of pearls into their braids.

Tsar Peter I was the first to take up the protection of pearls. To prevent the settlements of pearl mussels from being completely devastated, the tsar issued a decree according to which it was forbidden to catch young mollusks. And during the reign of Empress Elizabeth, even more attention began to be paid to this problem. The rivers in which pearl mussels were caught began to be protected.

Pearls were mined at public expense, but the monopoly on this type of activity greatly ruined the treasury, so it was soon completely abolished. As a result, private individuals took over the fishery, which significantly reduced the population of these slow-growing mollusks. Today, all types of freshwater pearl mussels are very rare, they are in danger of complete extinction, therefore the common pearl mussel is recommended for inclusion in the Red Book.

.(Source: “Biological Encyclopedic Dictionary.” Editor-in-chief M. S. Gilyarov; Editorial Board: A. A. Babaev, G. G. Vinberg, G. A. Zavarzin and others - 2nd ed., corrected . - M.: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1986.)

pearls

Several births bivalves forming pearls. Pearl formation occurs when a foreign body (for example, a grain of sand) gets between the mantle and the shell of a mollusk. The mantle, which produces the shell substance, becomes overgrown with a foreign particle, forming a closed sac in which the pearl is formed. People have learned to artificially obtain pearls by introducing foreign bodies under the mantle of mollusks.
Freshwater pearl mussels inhabited many rivers and lakes in Europe and North America. Due to river pollution, their range has been significantly reduced. In Russia, the source of pearls was the common pearl mussel, widespread in northern rivers; now this species, along with other freshwater forms, is under protection.

The main suppliers of pearls are sea pearl mussels that live in the shallow waters of tropical seas. They often form large settlements. They serve as an object for fishing and artificial breeding.

.(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Chief editor A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.)

See what “PEARLS” are in other dictionaries:

A group of genera of bivalve mollusks capable of forming pearls. Freshwater pearl mussels in Europe, Northern. America, East Asia, including 4 species in the Far East (from Kamchatka to Sakhalin and Primorye). Due to pollution of water bodies, the number has sharply... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Modern encyclopedia

Pearl mussels- PEARLS, bivalve mollusks capable of forming pearls. The shell is oval, with a developed mother-of-pearl layer. Over 15 species of freshwater pearl mussels live in clear rivers and streams of Europe, North America, East Asia. Because of… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

A group of genera of bivalve mollusks capable of forming pearls. Freshwater pearl mussels in Europe, North America, East Asia, including 4 species in the Far East (from Kamchatka to Sakhalin and Primorye). Due to water pollution... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

The general name for marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks (See Bivalves), in the mantle of which pearls can be formed. Marine fish of the genus Pinctada, which have a rounded shell, live in tropical seas; are mined... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

A group of genera of bivalve mollusks capable of forming pearls. Freshwater animals in Europe, Northern. America, East Asia, including 4 species in the Far East (from Kamchatka to Sakhalin and Primorye). Due to pollution of water bodies, no. decreased sharply. 5 types... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary- The order of true elasmobranch mollusks includes the largest number of species that live in both marine, fresh and brackish waters. Found in all seas and oceans at various depths from tidal... ... Biological encyclopedia