What is and why meerschaum ?

 
Meerschaum is a marvelous mineral found only in Eskisehir, Turkey. Known under the name of "sea foam" in Europe it has a very fine porous texture and white to whitish colour. Alteration layers with interspersed meerschaum nodules occur between the surface and depths over 300 meters (aprox. 1000 feets) below the surface. In order the meerschaum blocks, vertical shafts are driven into the earth.

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When alteration layers, which are easily distinguished in the soil, are reached, adits are cut in search of meerschaum nodules. In some regions, meerschaum layers are at levels below the ground water table. In order to extract meerschaum in such places, it will be necessary to pump out the water first. Manual power, personel experience gained through years and instinct are benefited from to a great extent in meerschaum mining.

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Very light and porous meerschaum absorbs great amounts of moisture or gas when subjected to them after having been dried, and retains residues in the moisture or gas holds them in its texture. Due to this basic property, meerschaum is a raw material very suitable for carving tobacco pipes and as an absorbent for filters, for insulation and as filling material in industry.