Crystopedia
Organic gem Healing crystal

Nacre

✦ The Nurturing Shell ✦

💧 Don't Get Wet

Crystal lore: 🛡️ Protection🌊 Calm💗 Love🔮 Intuition

Also known as: Mother of pearl

Organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs.

White & Clear

Nacre specimen
Nacre sticks.JPG · Wikimedia Commons (see file page for author & license)

📜 Key facts

AgeModern (farmed and wild shells)
Origin & sourcesPearl oysters, abalone and freshwater mussels: Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, the Philippines, China and New Zealand (paua).
CompositionNacre: platelets of aragonite (calcium carbonate) bound by the protein conchiolin

How it forms

Mollusks secrete nacre in thin layers to line their shells. The stacked platelets interfere with light, producing iridescence.

Care & Handling

  • 💧 Don't Get Wet Organic nacre; soaking and acids damage it.

🌍 Where it's found

  • Type locality
  • Notable source / deposit
  • Country of origin

Marker positions are approximate (region or locality level). Type localities from Wikidata; notable sources curated by Crystopedia.

📷 Gallery

Freshwater mussel shell (mother of pearl)
Photo © Tiffany Stark

🔗 See also

✨ Aragonite family

Aragonite
AragoniteIMA mineral species
Aragonite Sputnik
Aragonite SputnikMineral variety
Banded Aragonite
Banded AragoniteMineral variety
Blue Aragonite
Blue AragoniteMineral variety
Brown Aragonite
Brown AragoniteMineral variety
Caribbean Blue Calcite
Caribbean Blue CalciteMineral variety
Cave Aragonite
Cave AragoniteMineral variety
Flos Ferri
Flos FerriMineral variety
Pearl
PearlOrganic gem
Twinned Aragonite
Twinned AragoniteMineral variety
Yellow Aragonite
Yellow AragoniteMineral variety

Varieties & related stones

✨ Metaphysical & Folklore

These are traditional and folk beliefs from crystal lore. They are not scientific or medical claims – crystals are not a substitute for professional care.

The iridescent shell lining that forms pearls, associated with nurturing, calm and protection at sea.

Traditional uses
nurturing, calm, protection
Chakra
Heart Crown
Zodiac
♋Cancer ♓Pisces
Element
💧Water

💞 Pairs well with (traditional pairings)

LepidoliteBoth carry the theme of calm, so together they're thought to reinforce it. ChrysocollaA natural partner for calm; Chrysocolla also adds communication. LarimarPaired in tradition for calm, with Larimar bringing feminine energy as well. HowliteBoth carry the theme of calm, so together they're thought to reinforce it. Smoky QuartzA grounding root stone to balance mother of pearl's high, spiritual energy.

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