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Paua, a species of abalone, is only found in the sea around the area of New Zealand. Its wonderful colors of this marine
mollusk make it the most colorful of all of the abalone. Most other abalone are pale in comparison.
The color in the paua shell changes when viewed at different angles. This iridescence, similar to that of Mother of
Pearl shell, but far more brilliant, is what makes paua shell so interesting as a gem material for use in jewelry. These brilliant colors are from the
light being refracted within the crystal layers of the shell. Each shell is different in its color, and in the patterns within the shell. The black
patterns in the shell come from layers of protein that are laid down between the layers of calcium that make up the shell. Paua has a hardness of 3.5 on
Mohs scale. Paua shell is dyed to enhance color and is a popular gemstone used in costume jewelry.
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