Meerschaum - or sepiolite - literally translated means "foam of the sea" has got nothing to do with spume, but is a mineral resource that mostly appears in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. Especially in Turkey.
Because of its soft and porous structure it is very popular for the fabrication of pipes. It is easy to form and to deal with. Additional to this it absorbes liquids very easily, wich is important for a good working pipe.
You should always start using a meerschaum pipe very slow and with low temerature. For it is ment to create a black layer of grime and condensate inside the pipe. This will in further use work like a filter for the smoke and liquids. If the pipe gets too hot the first time in use, this layer can't accure and all good characteristic traits of the meerschaum pipe won't be able to deploy.
In Turkey meerschaum pipes are almost completely manufactured. The filigrane and detail-loving shapes can't be produced by mashines only. Sepiolite meanwhile has become so popular and rare, that the export of untreated sepiolite is prohibited by the turkish government. Just the export of meerschaum products is allowed or at least already treated material.
 

A beautiful meerschaum pipe in a very nice casket, ca. 11cm long.