Question

The soft-tissue lining of oysters and clams creates pearls. Is a pearl a mineral? Yes, because it forms naturally. Yes, because it is beautiful and rare. No, because it is created artificially. No, because it is an organic substance.

Answer 1

No, because it is an organic substance. They are considered gems, but not minerals. :)

Answer 2

Although the soft-tissue lining of oysters and clams creates pearls, pearl is not a mineral because it is an organic substance. The correct answer is the last one.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pearls are often considered gemstones; they are a composite of the mineral Aragonite and the organic compound conchiolin, which is a protein, and the combination of both of them is called nacre.