
Bismuth (Synthetic Crystal)
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Alchemist-hp" title="User:Alchemist-hp">Alchemist-hp</a> (<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Alchemist-hp" title="User talk:Alchemist-hp"><span class="signature-talk">talk</span></a>) (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pse-mendelejew.de">www.pse-mendelejew.de</a>) (FAL)
Description
A striking, complex hopper crystal of bismuth, characterized by its stepped, geometric growth and a vibrant iridescent surface displaying a rainbow of colors due to a thin oxidation layer.
Geological Context
This specimen is a synthetic crystal, grown under controlled laboratory conditions. Naturally occurring bismuth is found as a native element in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, often associated with other metallic minerals.