| Bismuth Crystals |
| SpiritRock Shop |
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| Item# BC0209001 184g Bismuth Crystal from Germany $99.95 |
Mother Nature doesn't make Bismuth Crystals! Bismuth is rarely found in nature in its elemental form.
Of growing interest in rock shops, however, are laboratory-grown bismuth crystals. These crystals, while not
natural, are nonetheless very interesting and sought after by the mineral hobbyist, collectors and rock
hounds. The unique look that these crystals offer is really something very special!
Bismuth is a very unusual and rare metal that is solid at room temperature. It is more rare than platinum,
ranking number 69 out of the 75 listed rare elements found on Earth’s crust. One very interesting thing
about bismuth is that its liquid form is denser than its solid form. So as bismuth crystallizes, its solid form
floats above the liquid. This effect is only found in 3 other cases (water, gallium, and germanium).
Bismuth crystals are man-made or laboratory “grown”. Their growing time is between 4-10 minutes
after forming in a super-cooled bismuth melt. In its solid form, bismuth is incredibly fragile. However, the
crystals form to show perfect cleavage, making it tempting to handle and touch. The reason the crystal
structure is so fragile is because the rapid growth causes hollow stepped forms, called “hopper crystals”.
The iridescent coloring ranging through reds, blues, purples, gold and greens is due to a thin layer of
bismuth oxide that forms on the surface of the crystal as it cools. This is actually interference coloring,
similar to the coloring you see on soap bubbles and on oil slicks, and is based on how thick the oxide
grows. The brightness and color intensity can vary from sample to sample, depending on the quality and
purity of the bismuth used. Some labs report that adding voltage from a small battery helps control the
coloring during its formation.
Of growing interest in rock shops, however, are laboratory-grown bismuth crystals. These crystals, while not
natural, are nonetheless very interesting and sought after by the mineral hobbyist, collectors and rock
hounds. The unique look that these crystals offer is really something very special!
Bismuth is a very unusual and rare metal that is solid at room temperature. It is more rare than platinum,
ranking number 69 out of the 75 listed rare elements found on Earth’s crust. One very interesting thing
about bismuth is that its liquid form is denser than its solid form. So as bismuth crystallizes, its solid form
floats above the liquid. This effect is only found in 3 other cases (water, gallium, and germanium).
Bismuth crystals are man-made or laboratory “grown”. Their growing time is between 4-10 minutes
after forming in a super-cooled bismuth melt. In its solid form, bismuth is incredibly fragile. However, the
crystals form to show perfect cleavage, making it tempting to handle and touch. The reason the crystal
structure is so fragile is because the rapid growth causes hollow stepped forms, called “hopper crystals”.
The iridescent coloring ranging through reds, blues, purples, gold and greens is due to a thin layer of
bismuth oxide that forms on the surface of the crystal as it cools. This is actually interference coloring,
similar to the coloring you see on soap bubbles and on oil slicks, and is based on how thick the oxide
grows. The brightness and color intensity can vary from sample to sample, depending on the quality and
purity of the bismuth used. Some labs report that adding voltage from a small battery helps control the
coloring during its formation.
This stunning and large lab grown Bismuth Crystal is from Germany. It weighs 6.48 oz (184g) and measures
roughly 2.5 x 2.1 x 1.8 inches ( 64 x 53 x 46 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
roughly 2.5 x 2.1 x 1.8 inches ( 64 x 53 x 46 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
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| Bismuth to make crystals is usually found in the preferred form of 99.99% or better pure Bismuth discs or pellets that can be purchased |
| Item# BC0209002 93g Bismuth Crystal from Germany $59.95 |
This stunning and large lab grown Bismuth Crystal is from Germany. It weighs 3.28 oz (93g) and measures
roughly 2.3 x 2 x 1.4 inches ( 58 x 51 x 35 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
roughly 2.3 x 2 x 1.4 inches ( 58 x 51 x 35 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
| Item# BC0209003 79g Bismuth Crystal from Germany $39.95 |
This stunning and large lab grown Bismuth Crystal is from Germany. It weighs 2.80 oz (79g) and measures
roughly 1.7 x 1.3 x 1.4 inches ( 43 x 33 x 35 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
roughly 1.7 x 1.3 x 1.4 inches ( 43 x 33 x 35 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
| Item# BC0209004 77g Bismuth Crystal from Germany $44.95 |
This stunning and large lab grown Bismuth Crystal is from Germany. It weighs 2.70 oz (77g) and measures
roughly 1.6 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches ( 41 x 41 x 33 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
roughly 1.6 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches ( 41 x 41 x 33 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
| Item# BC0209005 60g Bismuth Crystal from Germany $19.95 |
This stunning and large lab grown Bismuth Crystal is from Germany. It weighs 2.12 oz (60g) and measures
roughly 1.6 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches ( 41 x 41 x 36 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
roughly 1.6 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches ( 41 x 41 x 36 mm) Beautifully hoppered with an nice array of iridescent coloring
