Colour produced through wavelength-dependent interaction with spatial structure, such as thin-film interference or diffraction, rather than pigment absorption alone.
A layered biomineral in shells and pearls. Repeating mineral–organic layers can produce interference colour, while oriented surface grooves can also diffract light.[ref]
Investigation of Nacre Nanostructure by Analyzing Its Structural Color Pattern by Nicole Fan and others. Introduction, two repetitive structures
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Structural coloration is a phenomenon whereby colors are produced not by pigments, but rather by microstructure that interacts with light. This occurs when the physical structure of a material reflects and refracts light in specific ways, resulting in vivid colors that can change based on the angle of observation, the angle of light, and other environmental factors.