Bearding is defined as...

• A. The presence of tiny feather inclusions.
• B. A color zoning.
• C. A surface texture defect affecting luster.
• D. The appearance of minute fractures perpendicular to a bruted girdle.

Answer: (D)

Bearding refers to minute fractures that appear as hairline cracks along the girdle, specifically perpendicular to a bruted girdle. These cracks form during bruting, the finishing step that shapes the girdle, and show up under magnification as thin, hairlike lines around the edge. It’s a surface defect tied to the girdle finishing, not an internal inclusion or a color issue. The other descriptions describe different phenomena—internal feather inclusions, color zoning, or general surface texture problems—that don’t capture the distinct hairline cracks radiating from the girdle itself.