Discrimination of red corals(Paracorallium japonicum) and the Mediterranean Sea red coral (Corallium rubrum) by hardness measurement and magnifying test.

Abstract

Presently, in Japan the classification of gem corals is carried out by using advanced technology. Phylogenetic classification that analyzed the nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial gene and structural analysis of the tip in coral bone axis is also performed by trace elements in ICP-MS. This study examined the difference between red coral (Paracorallium japonicum) in the Japanese coastal waters and red coral (Corallium rubrum) in the Mediterranean. In particular, we focused on differences in hardness and magnification tests, and verified whether the comparison between the two could be used for discrimination. Among “Aka-sango”, those that show a certain deep red color are called "blood red corals" We also make reference to the range of color called "red coral" in this study.