BISMUTH
B I S M U T H is a pretty wild metal.
It’s a pure element, like Copper or Aluminum or Gold, and it’s right up there with Lead in terms of density.
It’s not like most other metals. First of all, Bismuth is fragile - you could shatter crystals like these in your hands if you really tried. It melts at just 520.5 F, which is easily done in a cooking pot over the stove. It’s generally regarded as a non-toxic metal, and sure, it’s technically used in Pepto-Bismol, but that’s not a license to eat it. Metals in the body are typically not a good idea.
No matter how tasty it looks.
but also
Bismuth has a few key qualities that have me bewitched.
It’s heavy. Like, “how’s it doing that?” heavy. A cookie-sized disc of Bismuth can weigh well over a pound, and because of that heaviness and its smooth, cold texture, Bismuth crystals are very satisfying to hold and feel.
The crystals grow in concentric squares that form a sort of hollow rectangular prism. It really doesn’t look like it’s from this world, and that’s part of what makes it so mesmerizing to look at. That, and the beautiful oxidation colors that settle in as the metal cools.
There’s something magical about watching Bismuth crystals take shape and pulling them from a mirror pool of molten metal. There’s a real excitement about not knowing how large the crystal is going to be, what the structure is, or where the colors will end up.
break me off a piece
Shiny, tactile Bismuth crystals are my personal favorite fidget toy at my desk. They’re vibrant and mesmerizing, perfect for people who like to ponder.
Bismuth needs to be handled with care, but makes a great gift for people who collect minerals, crystals, and rare metals.