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mussle shell

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butch:
does anyone know how to remove the dark outer part from the pearl inner side of a large freshwater mussle. i tried torch,boiling,sanding,grinding,prying,powerbrush. i dont want to damage the inner part.  perhaps an acid or akali. thanks.. ??? ???

Hillbilly:
I've made a couple pendants from big freshwater mussel shells. I've usually used the very non-paleo dremel tool with a sanding drum method, but I did mostly grind one out on sandstone. When you get through the dark part, it's almost translucent. You won't get the pearly effect on the back of the piece, but it's still on the front.

butch:
thanks hillbilly, trying to keep the pearl and allthe little ridges. think ill try murriatic on a cloth to thin it and then alternate boiling and freezing. it pops off naturally on the creek beds but it takes time.

DanaM:
Illegal to harvest or posses them in Michigan :o

Dingleberry:
Like Hillbilly said.  Those layers can be used to age a mussel, or any bivalve, just as you would for an otolith from a fish.

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