The Importance of Being Bismuth (original) (raw)

My friends, meet Bismuth.

First, a sample of native bismuth. It's almost all bismuth, with some of quartz sticking to it, but there's only a bit of metallic glint to be seen.

Vilaque River, Los Andes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia

Next, an ingot of bismuth. The colors, pink, yellow and blue, are mostly from a thin oxidation layer. These colors can be seen to greater effect in the hopper crystals commonly sold in nature stores. Yes, I have some of those, too, but I don't need to litter the internet with yet another such image.

And yes, my life has other things going on, besides element collecting.

Last night, Joe & I saw Vast in concert at the Blind Pig.
The night before that, we saw "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf" in Chicago. My psyche is still trying to recover from all of that catharsis. Lots and lots of catharsis. Bucket loads of catharsis.

Current Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Current Mood: content

Current Music: Mozart: Magic Flute

:)

Nothing surprises me much, anymore. In this day of the US Department of Homeland Security, I suspect everyone and everything.

Kinda makes me want to move to Canada!!!

Read back in my journal for other elements pix, including my favorite, Cesium.