Bismuth xls (lab grown)

Item Description

Stunning hoppering and otherworldly iridescent psychedelic colors on this surreal multi-sided man-made crystallized bismuth from Germany. These incredible lab-grown bismuth crystals float to the top of a supercooled bismuth melt and form within minutes. The iridescent colors are caused by light scattering on a very thin layer of bismuth oxide. Certainly a spectacular form with eye-catching color for a man-made native element! Not natural 100%, but so neat and mesmerizing and fun to look at! The iridescent colors and geometric forms are truly surreal. From the collection of well-known Jack Halpern of San Francisco, as featured in the Mineralogical Record, March 2005. Jack kept a row of beautiful synthetic and man made mineral specimens on a top shelf in his mineral room, because he found them beautiful in their own regard, and also educational. Every turn presents a decidedly different perspective to this dramatically colorful and artistic specimen.