Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.167" mpglass in the Bearpaw Formation

in the Bearpaw Formation

2018 (Source: USGS)

the most likely source is a low-density asteroid or comet airburst explosion leading to the fusion of silica-rich sands roughly 28

Labradorite is a glimmering mineral with a beautifully distinct shine

dinosaurs had ruled the Earth for 175 million years

Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.167" mpglass in the Bearpaw FormationBismuth 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. 167". While bismuth's practical uses are limited beyond some pharmaceuticals, the element's utterly unique colors and shape continue to