Abalone shell

This shell is the ocean’s secret palette, where moonlight and storm-clouds swirl in a dance of pearlescent light! It is the source of iridescent abalone cabochons. The shell has characteristic open respiratory pores in a row on the shell's outer edge. The shells are widely used in indigenous traditions for smudging (cleansing with sage). Their natural respiratory pores provide oxygen flow, making them ideal heat-proof holders for burning herbs. They are also used to promote emotional balance, intuition, and peace. The tough, interlocking structure of calcium carbonate and mother-of-pearl (nacre) has inspired innovations in biomaterials, offering models for developing extremely strong, lightweight synthetic materials.