Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.978" maiasaur This specimen is a Hyracodon

This specimen is a Hyracodon tooth recovered on private land from the White River Formation in South Dakota

Heated to hundreds of degrees

technical diagrams

They wished to invoke the image of ancient Greek and Roman architecture in their new country

Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.978" maiasaur This specimen is a HyracodonBismuth 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. 978". While bismuth's practical uses are limited beyond some pharmaceuticals, the element's utterly unique colors and shape continue to