Natural freshwater pearls occur in mussels for the same reason that saltwater pearls occur in oysters. Foreign material, usually a sharp object or parasite, enters a mussel and cannot be expelled.

Chinese pearls came mainly from freshwater rivers and ponds, whereas Japanese pearls were found near the coast in salt water. Nearly all the pearls in commerce originated from those few sources.

Tap to read more. Mollusks like oysters and mussels, which live in both saltwater and freshwater, are the primary sources of pearls, forming them as a defense mechanism.

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