Wikipedia: History of Smoking pipe

Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 7c7

Meerschaum (hydrated magnesium silicate), a mineral found in small shallow deposits mainly around the city of Eskezehir in central Turkey, is prized for its plasticity which allows it to be carved into many decorative and figural shapes. It has been used since the 17th century and, with clay pipes, represented the most common medium for pipes before the introduction of briar as the material of choice in the 19th century.

Meerschaum (hydrated magnesium silicate), a mineral found in small shallow deposits mainly around the city of Eskesehir in central Turkey, is prized for its plasticity which allows it to be carved into many decorative and figural shapes. It has been used since the 17th century and, with clay pipes, represented the most common medium for pipes before the introduction of briar as the material of choice in the 19th century. The word "meerschaum" means "sea foam" in German, alluding to its natural white color. However, meerschaum is a very porous mineral that absorbs elements of the tobacco during the smoking process, and gradually changes color to a golden brown. Old, well-smoked meerschaum pipes are prized for their distinctive coloring.

	Revision 19 . . (edit) December 13, 2001 4:43 pm by Douglasellsworth *[Eskezehir to Eskesehir]**
	Revision 18 . . December 6, 2001 3:03 am by Wmorgan [def'n. of "meerschaum" and a few more notes]
	Revision 17 . . September 28, 2001 11:16 pm by (logged).251.78.xxx *[Format change. PC should not dominate an encyclopedia. An item on chemistry would not likely start out with a review of the Bhopal or Seveso disasters, or would it?]**