Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.716" decade-2024 protective shells

protective shells

67 inches in length

Above: Hoshizuna-no-hama ( Star Sand Beach ) in Iriomote Island

It is found almost exclusively in the Bearpaw Formation of southern Alberta

Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.716" decade-2024 protective shellsBismuth is an element (Bi 83) best known for its unusual staircase shape, the result of bismuth atoms attaching to the edge of a rapidly growing crystal. This is called hoppering, when atoms are drawn to the edge of a structure, creating a lattice formation. This specimen is a Bismuth Rainbow Crystal, measuring 1. 716". While bismuth's practical uses are limited beyond some pharmaceuticals, the element's utterly unique colors and shape continue to