mis·sis·sip·pi riv·er pearls | ˌmi-sə-ˈsi-pē ri-vər pər(-ə)ls
noun
Irregularly shaped pearls, usually elongated
First observed in the early 20th century, Mississippi River pearls are found in mollusks that are native to the Mississippi River. Round pearls are incredibly rare in the river, and are less likely to be found than irregularly shaped pearls, often elongated into an oval or tooth-like shape. These freshwater pearls are often produced by fisheries along the river that culture mollusks for the shells as well as the meat. These freshwater pearls, in addition to being generally not round, will vary in color as well, often with a burnished copper, gold or, yellow color. Due to the size of freshwater mussels, they can produce a large number of pearls at a time - often well over 30.
