Showing a rugged exterior, this is the topside of the shell.The inner layers, capturing the contours of ‘mother-of-pearl’ lining a perlemoen (abalone) shell.
Yes luck is the word. The abalone species is becoming rare, they’re illegally poached for big bucks, being a delicacy particularly on the Asian market. The beach itself is a no-take for shells … hopefully nature can take it’s course and it will degrade into pearlised grains of sand?
Nature on the Edge 
Nature’s most beautiful colours.
Aren’t they! A tad more subtle than paua shells 🙂
Hidden treasure.
Finding wondrous delights through the world of extension tube macro lenses 🙂
Wow ! You were able to find this on the beach? How lucky you are.
Yes luck is the word. The abalone species is becoming rare, they’re illegally poached for big bucks, being a delicacy particularly on the Asian market. The beach itself is a no-take for shells … hopefully nature can take it’s course and it will degrade into pearlised grains of sand?
That is so beautiful and precious!
Thanks Amy, that they are! The species is becoming scarce as they are poached and smuggled out of the country almost to extinction.
Lovely photos for us to see. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful colors is right on!
Thanks Ruth. Nature sure has quite a palette 🙂
Beautiful
Thanks! Popped over to your Momdeavor, love your blog description….. rarely boring, jubilant – some sparkling vitality there!
The hidden beauty within, very nice!
Thanks Jeff 🙂
The is one stunning shell. I grew up in the islands and to me, the sea holds the best treasures of all.
Great idea! And how beautiful the opalescence —
Excellent.
Thanks Rabirius 🙂
This reflect that it’s not what’s on the outside, but it’s the inner beauty that counts!
This true of many things 🙂
I would have thought that the second picture was a beach/seascape from above, but it’s a shell. Amazing – the microcosm mirrors the macrocosm.
Lovely observation, yes i imagine the colours of tropical seas and sunset reflecting rock pools 🙂
So iridescent.
Yes, it’s intriguing to see the inner nacreous making of shells 🙂