X-ray Computed Microtomography: Distinguishing Natural Pearls from Beaded and Non-Beaded Cultured Pearls
The distinction of natural from cultured pearls traditionally has been based on X-radiography. X-ray computed microtomography (μ-CT) has recently been applied to gain more insight into pearl structures. Using this technique, this article presents features observed in a selection of natural pearls and beaded and non-beaded cultured pearls. Based on these observations, μ-CT is shown to be a powerful tool for pearl identification.
DATA DEPOSITORY
Supplementary Videos (see below)
Summer, 2010
Figures 1a and 1b
Two Natural Pearls
Two Natural Pearls
Two natural pearls, samples mxt 3 (freshwater; a) and mxt9 (saltwater; b); for details and explanation, see table 1 and figure 3.
Figure 2
A Beaded Cultured Pearl
A Beaded Cultured Pearl
A beaded cultured pearl, sample mxt 14b (saltwater); for details and explanation, see table 1 and figure 4.
Figures 3a, 3b and 3c
Two Non-beaded Cultured Pearls
Two Non-beaded Cultured Pearls
Two non-beaded cultured pearls, samples mxt 1 (freshwater; a) and mxt 61_14 (saltwater; b). Also included is a short movie showing the rendered model of the cavity structure (“moustache”) in the center of sample mxt 1 (c); for details and explanation, see table 1 and figures 5 and 6.
Figure 4
A Non-beaded Cultured Pearl
A Non-beaded Cultured Pearl
A non-beaded cultured pearl with a complex structure, sample mxt 21_1 (saltwater); for details and explanation, see table 1 and figure 8.
