Does a 100-million-year-old oyster fossil contain the world's biggest pearl ever? How does one find out what is inside a mollusk that has turned to stone? Researchers are using modern day science to search inside to determine if the enormous oyster actually holds a pearl that may be as big as a golf ball and might be just a tad too big to be worn around the neck.
Fishermen found the huge oyster fossil in their net near the Solent Strait, which separates mainland England from the Isle of Wright. The prehistoric oyster is actually 10 times larger than a normal oyster so it must have caught their attention quickly, especially with the thought of finding an equally large pearl inside.
Luckily,the fishermen turned the incredible find over to Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth, Hampshire where it was determined that the oyster lived a really long life back in its day.
"Oysters can be aged by annual growth rings and we have counted more than 200 rings on this oyster making it an extremely long-lived individual."
The question everyone seems to want to know now is whether or not this enormous oyster is holding a gigantic pearl inside it. MRI machines will be used to find out exactly what is inside the 100-million-year-old oyster, if there is anything at all.
Do you think 100 million years is just too long for a pearl to last inside an oyster? How much do you think a golf ball-sized pearl would be worth?
Photo Source: DailyMail
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