Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.167" mpglass 2018 (Source: USGS)

2018 (Source: USGS)

Medvedev had been preparing to paint a landscape when the arrival of an unexpected meteorite took him by surprise

in the Bearpaw Formation

Chondrites can be identified by the presence of small round grains called chondrules

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

Bismuth Rainbow Crystal Staircase - 1.167" mpglass 2018 (Source: USGS)Bismuth 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