Birthstones
Stones: Natural Synthetic
Coral

Coral

Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook
(A Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Coral isn't a gemstone - it isn't even a stone or mineral. I'm including it in these pages because people often treat it as if it were a gem and you can buy a wide assortment of coral jewelry such as necklaces, beads and earrings.

What Is Coral?

Coral "rock" is formed from the remains of dead sea creatures. Coral are tiny marine animals that live together in colonies. What appears to us to be a single "coral" is in fact not an individual organism but a collection of many tiny polyps. Living coral can form into a varity of shapes from simple pillars to the amazing brain coral (Diporia labyrinthiformis).

There are many varieties of coral in a variety of colours such as blue, red and black. White coral is often the result of coral bleaching and can indicate environmental issues, in particular rising sea temperature.

Reefs

A coral reef is formed from huge numbers of these tiny creatures which build up over time as a living reef. The coral solidifies as the polyps die naturally or are removed from the water, leaving behind their exoskeletons. The reefs form a natural environment for fish and other sea creatures. Many people like to buy decorative live coral for use in an aquarium.

Being made of tiny bones natural coral is calcium based, high in calcum carbonate.

Because of over-fishing and other human threats to the environment, many areas have laws to protect the reefs.

Pieces of a coral reef are often used for jewelry, especially red coral which has long been popular in Indian jewelry. The price of a piece of coral depends mainly on its colour and size.

Myth & Legend

Coral appears in many legends and stories of folklore, often because of the way in which it hardens when removed from the water. This has been connected with, for example, the growth of human teeth. From there it is a short jump to the belief that coral can assist in protecting a child from evil spirits. Coral was sometimes used to make teething sticks for infants.

Coral removed from the water will not live for long. However there is a myth that pieces of coral embedded in the flesh - possibly that of a diver - will continue to live and grow.

In Greek mythology coral was formed following the defeat of Medusa by Perseus. He placed her head upon the shore and her blood turned the seaweed into coral.

Coral Castle

The Coral Castle near Homestead, Florida is a bizarre structure that is claimed to be the work of one man. Built mainly of coral the structure was created by Edward Leedskalnin, supposedly to impress his fiancee who had dumped him before their wedding. Leedskalnin took almost 30 years building the Castle working alone and refusing to let anyone else watch him.

The Coral Castle and the story behind it are remarkable in themselves and are a popular tourist attraction. What makes it really interesting is the question of how one man working alone could have created such a structure. Various theories have been proposed including the suggestions that he had rediscovered the secrets of The Ancients or even created an anti-gravity machine!