Meerschaum has got nothing to do with spume. It simply is a mineral resource from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, mainly the Turkey.
Meerschaum is really easy to treat, because of its soft and porous structure. Just perfect to manufacture pipes out of it.
The second reason, why meerschaum is perfect for pipes is its nature to absorbe liquids easily. But the smooth and soft structure of meerschaum hasn't only got advantages.
A disadvantage is, that you can not treat meerschaum with machines ... or let's say not so easy.
Therefor, in Turkey meerschaum pipes are still manufactures by hand. And out of economical reasons (meerschaum becomes precious), Turkey does export meerschaum only as ready manufactured pipes,
or at least as a billet.
You have to break in the pipe slowly and carefully. Because low temperatures at the first time using ist, the pipe generates a layer of smut and candensates inside the pipe, with will work as a filter lateron.
When you start smoking with too high temperatures, this layer will no occure and the expensive material meerschaum is wort nothing at all.