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 Ancient Fossils & Pearls The oldest known fossil pearls date from 230-210 million years ago, although mollusks have undoubtedly been producing pearls since they first appeared about 530 million years ago. During a pearl’s fossilization, the aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate that makes up most of the pearl) is replaced by calcite or another mineral. But in cross sections, the fossils show the same concentric layering as in modern pearls.
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