A beautiful pair of abalone shell and green smithsonite sphere on a stand. Abalone is a gastropod mollusk that lives in coastal saltwater. A member of the Haliotidae family, it ranges in size from 4 to 10 inches. Like other univalve snails, it has a single shell on top and uses a large foot to cling to rocks and eat algae. The abalone shell is flat and spiral-shaped with several small holes around the edges. Its other names include ear shells and sea ears because of its shell shape. The interior of the shell is an iridescent mother of pearl (nacre) pattern that is as prized as the meat it protects. Green Smithsonite, also known as green zinc spar, is a mineral that belongs to the carbonate mineral group. It is a secondary mineral that forms as a result of the weathering and oxidation of primary zinc ore deposits. Beautiful, in perfect condition extraordinary shell / snail, whose mother-of-pearl layer shimmers differently in the light, from blue to green and violet. Abalone is a gastropod mollusk that lives in coastal saltwater. A member of the Haliotidae family, it ranges in size from 4 to 10 inches. Like other univalve snails, it has a single shell on top and uses a large foot to cling to rocks and eat algae. The abalone shell is flat and spiral-shaped with several small holes around the edges. Its other names include ear shells and sea ears because of its shell shape. The interior of the shell is an iridescent mother of pearl (nacre) pattern that is as prized as the meat it protects. Smithsonite typically occurs in a variety of colors, including green, blue, pink, yellow, and brown. The green color in smithsonite is often attributed to the presence of traces of copper. It is a relatively soft mineral, with a hardness of 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, making it susceptible to scratching. APPROXIMATE DIMENSION including stand # Abalone --> Height: 26 cm - Width: 10 cm Lrngth: 6 cm # Sphere --> Height: 19.5 cm - Diameter: 11 cm - THE WEIGHT MENTIONED IS INCLUDING PACKING MATERIAL. THE SHIPMENT - The item will be sent with a Track & Trace code via DHL Parcel, DPD or postNl. The tracking will be updated in your Catawiki lot once your parcel has been dropped off. - Please check regularly to avoid your parcel being returned to us, in which case the buyer will be responsible for the shipping costs of the 2nd shipment. - For tracking to Spain and Portugal please use this link and add the tracking number from your Catawiki lot https://clientesparcel.dhl.es/LiveTracking/Home WE DO NOT COMBINE SHIPPING!!! If you have any questions about your parcel please contact us using the Catawiki message service. We will try to reply within 3 working days.