Bismuth

tami there too cool whats the disc made of it looks like a reg tin slug,, how do you doit i wanna know more my daughter would flip over one of those

I'll plead ignorance as to what it is, but it would make an amazing pin or even a pair of earrings if it isn't toxic - it's awesome! I LIKE IT! I LIKE IT!

The disk is solid bismuth, it is heavier than it looks, it is like gold, very dense, but has a very low melting point.
21 disk equal 2 pounds of bismuth.
Crystal Growing Process
Each bismuth crystal is grown in a Graphite Crucible which sits on the top of a hotplate. Bismuth is put into the crucible then it is melted. Once molten, a steel rod is suspended into the surface of the bismuth. The hot plate is then turned down causing the bismuth to freeze around the rod. The crystal starts to grow down into the molten bismuth. By monitoring the growth of the crystal the size can be determined. Once predicted size has been reached, the rod is removed with the crystal on the end. While being removed, the crystal oxidizes to get it's colors. The process takes about 45 minutes.

This website, gives a little about what bismuth is and what it is used for. pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/83.html
My book says that the Main sources are in Austrailia, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and South Dakota.
"Bismuth is relatively abundant in the Earth, with about 200 parts per million of the crust made up of this metal. Most of it occurs in various oxide, sulfide, or carbonate compounds, but it may also occur in its native state, uncombined with any other elements.
Bismuth is a dense metal with a specific gravity of 9.7 to 9.8. It also has a lower melting point --520 degrees F (271 degrees C)--than any other metal except mercury.
Bismuth is one of only two chemical elements that expand onfreezing, the other being gallium. As a result bismuth is useful for detailed die-casting and may be used as an intermediate product in the manufacture of acrylic fiber, paints and plastics.
Much of this elemeint if sound in association with lead, which is poisonous to humans. However, bismuth that has been formed in lead-free environments may be used to make iridescent lipstick, mascara, and nail polish.
If you hold a magnet against a piece of bismuth, the metal will pull in the opposite direct. This unusal property is known as diamagnetism."
This all came out of my book"ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ROCKS, MINERALS, AND GEMSTONES.
Tami

If the crystals are too big then all they can be is pretty decerations because they are too heavy, smaller crystals can be made into pendants. The crystal in the picture looks like it would make a beautiful necklace, but believe me it is heavy, probably the equivalent of 1 or 2 of the disks.
Tami

Unfortunatly I didn't make that crystal, I bought that one. I will hopefully get a chance to make some this spring. I want to do it outside just incase there are any fumes.
Tami