NATIVE BISMUTH ON MOLYBDENITE. ...

Description

NATIVE BISMUTH ON MOLYBDENITE
Wolfram Camp, Dimbulah, Mareeba Shire, Queensland, Australia
Bismuth, in the metallic form, is a lot less commonly encountered in Nature than metallic Gold, or Silver, for that matter. Here it has formed the core in a "pod" of Molybdenite, the sulfide of Molybdenum. Its polyhedral exterior form may be due to its being crystalline or it may have cooled from the molten state against euhedral Quartz crystals, now removed. X-ray analysis would be able to tell which. The Bismuth "crystal" measures some 2 ½ inches long, 1 ¼+ inches wide and is ¾ inch thick. The metallic luster of the specimen varies from a slightly iridescent one on the Bismuth to a brilliant silver-black on the Molybdenite. In its time it was owned by Ed David, science advisor to President Nixon, and also by noted New York mineral dealer Larry Conklin. Both of their labels accompany the specimen. It bears accession number "259A" on the obverse. The overall dimensions are 4 x 3 x 2 ¾ inches. The condition of this rare specimen is excellent and it comes with a custom base.

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