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Woman Bites into Oyster, Finds 51 Pearls

A Tennessee woman is flashing a pearl-y white smile this week... The lucky lady went to lunch at a seafood restaurant and is now the proud owner of 51 pearls!

Toni Elliot ordered oysters at Puckett's Boat House, and to her surprise found the pearls inside.

Just one pearl isn't that uncommon, but this many...in a single mollusk? Even if they’re not shiny is surely special.

Perfect pearls, the ones that occur naturally with that pretty circle shape are very rare, and very valuable. Producing pearls is an oyster's way of protecting itself against foreign substance... so this oyster must have had a lot, of unwanted guests.


Website: Everyday Chemistry, How Do Oysters Make Pearls?

Video: Why Oysters Make Pearls