【Coral】Coelenterata The order Anthozoa is the largest class in the phyla coelenterate, with more than 7,000 species, all of which are marine products. Polyps are further divided into eight-ample coral suborders and six-ample coral subclasses. Depending on the skeletal texture and body size of the hydra, corals are generally divided into several types, including large polyp scleractinian (LPS), small polyp scleractinian (SPS), soft coral, and anemone. Coral reef ecosystems, also known as underwater "tropical rainforests", have important functions such as protecting the coast, maintaining biodiversity, maintaining fishery resources, and attracting tourism. Many coral individuals are colorful, the brilliant color is not inferior to the various flowers on the land, some coral species have a stunning fluorescent effect, different types of corals can be built in the aquarium coral reef ecosystem, so that corals in the aquarium industry has great competitiveness.
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【Polyps】 During the growth process, they can absorb calcium and carbon dioxide in seawater, and then secrete limestone and become their own shell for survival. Corals are the secretions of polyps and form the supporting structure of polyps. Polyps that live in groups, their skeletons are linked together, and the intestinal lumen is also linked together through the small intestinal system, so these colony polyps have many "mouths" but share a "stomach". There are about 500 species of coral reefs that can be built, these reef-building polyps live in shallow waters, within 50 meters of water depth, the suitable temperature is 22 to 32 °C, if the temperature is below 18 °C, it can not survive. So in the high-latitude sea area people do not see coral reefs. The tentacles of polyps grow symmetrically, and depending on the number of tentacles, polyps can be divided into two suborders: 6 corals and 8 corals. Most of them sprout and reproduce, and the buds are inseparable from the mother, and eventually form interconnected groups.
Red Coral:Red Coral: An organic gemstone with a pleasant color and lustrous texture, it grows in the deep sea 100 to 2000 meters away from humans. Listed alongside pearls and amber as the three major organic gemstones, it is also listed as one of the Seven Treasures in the Oriental Buddhist Scriptures, and has been regarded as a rich and auspicious thing since ancient times. Natural red corals are formed by the accumulation of corals, which grow very slowly and are non-renewable, while red corals only grow in a few straits (Taiwan Strait, Japan Strait, Baltic Strait, Mediterranean Sea), which are limited by the sea, so red corals are extremely precious. Jewelry made of red coral is highly loved by collectors, and the value of fine red coral is very rapid and is valued by collectors.
【Identification points】 The preciousness of red coral leads to the profiteers making fake profits, at least from the Republic of China period, there is a pure chemical product "celluloid", its material is burned with coral glaze, coated with lead, coated with a layer of coral patent leather and painted texture, and carved into a ball with cow bone or talc, into the red, is a counterfeit and counterfeit instrument sold in disguise of coral.
Some of these means of falsification have been passed down to this day, but it is not difficult to identify: the "coral" made of material contains bubbles inside, the ballast is shiny, and there is no real coral fingerprint pattern; the "coral" made of glass is a shell-like fracture, and the real coral gap is smooth; the "coral" made of noodles is shiny, cracked for a long time, and the sound of hitting each other is muffled; the "coral" dyed with bone keratin only needs to be wiped with acetone, and the authenticity will be immediately distinguished.
Contemporary coral counterfeiting uses advanced science and technology, such as laser-colored with white coral or coral-like sea bamboo, Gilson's "synthetic coral", etc., which is extremely hidden, and if there is no rich experience or scientific instruments to detect, it is easy to mix beads. [3]
First, look at the texture. Red corals have longitudinal stripes parallel to the growth direction of the corals, and the arrangement is relatively tight. The outer red coral has a ring like the ring of the tree on the cross-section, and the naked eye should pay attention to these two textures when identifying.
Longitudinal view: Corals have parallel growth patterns in the longitudinal direction, and the direction is parallel coral cylinders. If it is a ring face, it is generally on the back, and if it is an engraved piece, it is present on the surface.
Horizontal view: The cross-section of the coral has growth patterns like annual rings, ranging from small to large. Concentric circular growth patterns are generally visible on coral ornaments.
Second, look at the color. The color of red coral is a vivid red, whether it is light or dark, it is alive, undead, not depressed! And red corals have a bright waxy luster, while dyed red corals have no luster and are depressed in color. [5] Coral colors are from the inside out, e.g. a column of coral, the closer to the surface layer, the darker the color of the coral, the inner layer, the lighter the color. That is to say, the color of the coral is uneven, and if the color of the coral is consistent inside and outside, it is suspected that there is a falsehood.
Third, listen to the sound. Real corals look delicate but have a crisp, hard sound when they collide with each other. General plastic or other imitation corals do not appear this hard and crisp sound. This sound is especially pronounced on the twigded corals.
Fourth, weigh the weight. Corals have a good sense of weight, generally placed in the palm of the hand will give people a sense of heaviness that does not match their delicate feeling, and this weight is also one of the bases for identifying red corals from some inferior counterfeits.
Fifth, the identification of natural corals and dyed corals: dyed corals are usually dyed with organic dyes to white corals into red and other colors, the identification feature is that the dye is enriched in cracks, and the external color is dark and the interior color is light, the surface is different, and the cotton will be dyed with a cotton stick dipped in acetone. [5]
Identifying a dyed coral also depends on how well it is dyed. Where dyed, the luster is not soft and natural, too charming, red has no layers, and the real red coral is candle red, red has layers, some even red and white, the middle faintly reveals the "fingerprint" (the texture of the calcium-containing coral is similar to the fingerprint of the person), and the difference is larger compared with the dyeing imitation.
1. White coral dyeing: commonly known as sea bamboo, which is characterized by a very obvious longitudinal texture.
2. Filled coral dyeing: It is filled with shallow reef corals with loose texture and glue injection. Features: smooth surface, rough and fragile, easy to metamorphose color.
3. Synthetic coral dyeing: all kinds of shellfish and gum-making corals are ground into powder and molded into coral shapes, without natural texture.
4. All kinds of jade imitation coral: dyed with dolomite and meltstone. Features: This stain, if not handled properly, will fade very quickly.
5. Plastic-dyed corals: red corals dyed with plastic products. Features: (1) the texture is very light; (2) easy to fade; (3) there is no natural texture, luster.
Sixth, the identification of natural corals and imitations: coral imitations commonly have dyed Dali rock, red glass, red plastic, and "Gilson coral" made of calcite powder and dye. These imitations do not have the internal structure of natural red coral, which can be distinguished by carefully looking at the grain; the granular structure of stained Dali rock, the dye is enriched in mineral particles, and the answer can be obtained by acetone test; The red glass type can be made very similarly, occasionally bubbles will be seen, and from the hardness point of view, the glass is larger than the coral, and it does not react with hydrochloric acid; The density of red plastic is generally less than 1.55, the heat is flavorful, and it does not react with hydrochloric acid; while the density of Gilson corals is 2.45