I like to play with hot metal. The item you see is exactly what you will be getting. This is bismuth. Chances are you already know that and that is why you came looking for it. If you aren't familiar with bismuth here is a brief explanation. Bismuth is an element with the symbol Bi and atomic number 83. It has melting point of 520 degrees. Once molten and allowed to cool, hopper crystals will begin to form within the liquid metal. It all comes down to timing of when to pull the crystals. They grow from the top down and bottom up. Almost all crystals I pull are from the top. After a crystal is pulled, it has a layer of bismuth oxide on its surface. The speed in which it cools and the thickness of the oxide layer is what gives bismuth its color. Bismuth is a soft metal and can be brittle. Even though it is a metal, I tell people to treat it like glass to be safe. It can break if dropped or have sharp edges in some spots. Bismuth oxide, which is what gives the bismuth its coloration, is susceptible to liquids with acidic properties. Over time handling the bismuth with you hands can rub off the bismuth oxide and dull or remove the shiny finish.