IIRC, and at my age that is a big "IF!!," the African meers are pressed meerschaum; not block as are most of the Turkish ones. That's why so many of them are "pre-colored or fumed" to make them look like block meers that have colored. Doesn't make'em bad smokers!! I have two Pete's, obviously made from African meerschaum, both pre-colored; smoke like a dream!!!! FWIW, FTRPLT