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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 21, 2009 5:48:04 GMT -5
I've gotten bored again and decided to scale up my Bismuth operation to bigger and better than ever! It took a lot of trial and error but I got a crystal here that is 6 inches tall and 7 inches wide!!! It is clean on all sides with no wall damage or intergrowth with the furnace sides anywhere. I checked through the internet and the biggest I found documented so far was 700 grams and some change, looked to be about 4 to 5 inches at best. This one is 6 by 7 inches and is over 2 kilograms  This specimen is NOT for sale as I am not sure I can duplicate this. Thought I'd post for you guys   Picture of the first huge harvest. Note the standard size computer mouse in the center   A better shot of the big cluster  another shot of the biggun  Pat will like this pic. she gave me the windcatcher in the photo. Added for size comparison. |
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Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Sept 21, 2009 6:19:56 GMT -5
oh my god that is nice. I am not familiar with the crystal where did it come from or grow. Where can we go to not be bord also? DIcky
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Post by hydrogeologist on Sept 21, 2009 7:04:33 GMT -5
Just curious, Tom: what is the process to grow the bismuth crystals?
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Post by geodepat on Sept 21, 2009 10:00:40 GMT -5
Wow Tom, you gotta call the Guiness people and get it recorded in the book. Love your pic with the wind whilry thing. To me I really know how big it is cause that thing is not small either. Keep up the new work, Pat ;D
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Post by romare on Sept 21, 2009 12:00:05 GMT -5
You had already surpassed the two guys, one in Germany, one in UK, that are growing these. Now look what you've done! That's waaaay cool. You gotta grow me one like that though...
Mark
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Post by amythestguy on Sept 21, 2009 12:15:23 GMT -5
Sweet Tom I am impressed!!!!
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 21, 2009 13:01:53 GMT -5
Dicky, The crystal is laboratory grown in my Garage. I used pure Bismuth and a whole lotta heat to grow. Anyone can grow small Bismuth Crystals. All you need to do is melt it and slowly cool it. The real trick is cooling the mess slowly and having a precise temperature. If that is not done well you get millions of little crystals competing for the space to grow. That is what makes this so hard to do. It took me three sessions and many tries to get this . It is never the same result twice  Oh and by the way my Wife to be is arriving in three days. She likes gems and especially the purple ones...so it will not be the end of my travels to the many digs ;D I also have a detached garage for my stuff LOL! |
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Post by scott on Sept 21, 2009 13:30:46 GMT -5
Tom, do you sell and ship them? I need to buy more from you. I showed a few friends and they want some.
Scott
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Post by 4cornersrocks on Sept 21, 2009 19:39:14 GMT -5
I didn't know bismuth crystals could be that big! This gets my vote for post of the month or something! The piece I own is maybe 1 cubic inch and I thought it was nice.
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Post by arappaho on Sept 21, 2009 20:09:08 GMT -5
Awesome, Tom! Great job! Thanks for the pics.
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ken
Junior Member
Posts: 0
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Post by ken on Sept 21, 2009 21:02:04 GMT -5
That is awesome Tom. Keep up the good work. That one is worth a fortune. Way to go.
Ken
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Post by lee on Sept 22, 2009 23:12:13 GMT -5
Tom:
You make my "large" crystal look like a shadow of a real Bismuth Crystal. What are we going to do with you if you keep making them bigger and bigger. Soon there will not be enough room in you stove to grow them and you will need to make your own large furnace.
Congratulations of the growth of such a wonder crystal. I am proud of you for trying to grow bigger and better bismuth crystals. You're the bismuth man!!
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 23, 2009 1:26:21 GMT -5
Thanks Lee! I met a man Named Bill Kline in Portsmouth, Va years ago who was growing these as well. He and I became great friends because I had an interest in odd and exotic metals. I got interested in Bismuth Crystal Growing as well but he as already in the business. He passed away several years ago but I will never forget his selfless friendship many times over. He took me to Quartzsite, Arizona for the winter of 1996-1997. I never really got back into Bismuth until a few years ago. He and I co-developed a device called a solar powered geode as well. It is the crystal growing globes you all saw at the roundup a few times. I recently found a picture on the internet of him.  Full credit for this picture goes to "where on Earth" shop in Myrtle beach. They had Bismuth grown by him on sale and a wonderful tribute to Bill on their website. I actually bought bismuth crystals this week... grown by my late friend. They are more precious than gold to me! He had a very good process, He got up to 5 inch clusters. I have took it upon myself to finish his work. I just wish he could see the results  |
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Post by earthnhands on Sept 23, 2009 7:33:53 GMT -5
That is a really sweet tribute Tom, and a great reminder of why it is so important to share knowledge selflessly. I bet he would be really impressed with your work, and really happy he influenced you in such a positive way.
We can all be thankful for that kind of continuum as we admire that big hog of a bismuth crystal. I really like the shape the bismuth takes.
Peace,
Rebecca
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 23, 2009 16:41:32 GMT -5
I just broke my own record after 17 hours worth of work and several unsuccessful attempts!  This is now the biggest single crystal. Approximately 7 by 7 by 6 inches.  Another view of the megalodon bismuthidae  Quarter is for scale. Smaller crystal is about 5 by 5 by 5 inches. I discovered today that Bismuth has two crystal phases not much unlike quartz. |
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Post by leonardo on Sept 23, 2009 18:38:02 GMT -5
You the MAN....someday I will have to come and visit you to see your process...You know what I want to do...great pic's
Palei/Leonard
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Post by arappaho on Sept 23, 2009 21:56:45 GMT -5
Congratulations, Tom!  The growth of this last one looks very controlled or "organized". I wonder if that is a result of your new breakthrough? I wouldn't be surprised, but do you really think these are world record crystals? And you saw it HERE first, Folks. ;D Joe |
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Post by saskrock on Sept 23, 2009 23:30:08 GMT -5
Those crystals are so cool. Where do you get the bismuth from?
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 24, 2009 5:24:52 GMT -5
I would present this on no other site first but DR! I have checked so far and have found none bigger than these. If anyone does find a larger Bi crystal please let me know. I would not be disappointed but would like to have it as a goal to reach. Bismuth is purchased as a whole metal ingot. It is a pure element on the periodic table. It is dead last as stable elements are concerned! Lead is actually the one before Bi. After Bismuth all are subject to radioactive decay. |
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Post by lee on Sept 24, 2009 11:46:30 GMT -5
Tom:
As long as you have been working on growing bismuth, I'm sure you know of others who do it also. If you think that your big ones are world class then I'm sure your DR friends agree with you. I know one thing, I have seen your crystals bring a lot of joy and excitement to a lot of folks. I really enjoy my two big crystals and look at them frequently.
Thanks for your good work and keep it up.
Lee
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 24, 2009 19:41:14 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the compliments. By the way I just weighed the huge single crystal... It is just over 4 pounds!!! I have actually recycled smaller crystals to make it. I was thinking of getting it wirewrapped to I could wear it around at shows |
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Post by geodepat on Sept 24, 2009 19:55:37 GMT -5
LOL You and Rick would make a great pair. You with your bismuth and Rick with his corundum.
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Post by scintillator4u on Sept 25, 2009 22:48:01 GMT -5
Pat, If we include you with your JXR we could try out for the three stooges ;D
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Post by lee on Oct 6, 2009 21:42:43 GMT -5
Tom:
How about an update on the growing of your large bismuth crystals. Have you been able to reproduce your growing of the 5 pounder again? Let's see more pictures if you can - I'm sure that many of the board members have not seen your crystals in person so try to get shots of them next to a tape measurer or other known reference item.
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Post by scintillator4u on Oct 8, 2009 18:59:23 GMT -5
Hey Lee, I did break another record, this time for height. It is about 8 and 1/2 inches diagonally base to tip and about 7 to 8 inches tall. I sold this one already at the show I did (private sale for High Energy Amateur Science HEAS group in Richmond).  Weighed about 6 pounds. Took several hours work to grow.  A more top view of it  My table complete with my Fiance', We marry on the 24th of this month. ;D If I get time I will try to grow others, I am also starting minirature thermal constructs to get very intricate smaller crystals with unusual habits. |
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Post by scintillator4u on Oct 8, 2009 19:01:25 GMT -5
Sorry about the picture size, not sure what happened.
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Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Oct 8, 2009 19:08:46 GMT -5
;)wow and Wow . Great work
Dicky
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Post by jonamico on Mar 25, 2019 1:02:20 GMT -5
Oh my I wish these pictures were still on this site.. You still doing these Dicky? Any Pictures still available for us to see??? I would love to rack your brain for even 2 min!! I thought I had a break through or 2 and every time I try something new I fail... I'm sure you dont want to share your secrets to the world but maybe I can apprentice for you? lol How many LBS of Bi are you melting to get a 6 LB Crystal?? Ive done 55 LBS and failed with a 1/2 lb crystal... I think I just need more space and helping hands... |
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