RESERVED FOR MEREDITH **54g Native Bismuth Specimen 2C from Wolfram Camp

* RESERVED FOR MEREDITH *

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This piece weighs 54g and measures 3cm x 2.5cm x 1.5cm.

These specimens are Native Bismuth and were collected in approximately 1982 from Wolfram Camp, Mareeba Shire, Queensland, Australia. These crystal generally form within now absent Quartz points, leaving very interesting negative casts of prior Quartz.

Wolfram Camp is located approximately 21 km north west of Dimbulah and was an important Tungsten and Molybdenum producing mining camp. First worked from 1894 for Wolframite, Bismuth and Molybdenite with the main focus on Wolframite. Near surface alluvial and detrital deposits were the main ore source until these were exhausted around 1906. Lumps of Wolframite are know to have reached over 1 metre in diameter and Molybdenite lumps to half a metre in diameter.

The main production periods were 1908 to 1920; 1967 to 1972 and 1978 to 1982. All that remains are the buildings of the latest mining companies of Wolfram Camp that have worked the area in the 2000s until the mine operations ceased in since 2018.

Bismuth is an uncommon mineral composed of the element of the same name. It is considered to be approximately as rare as Silver. Bismuth has a metallic-white color with a slight reddish or pinkish hue. This pure color will only be present on an untarnished (i.e. freshly broken) surface, since Bismuth tarnishes yellow to dark-gray. Native bismuth usually occurs as a minor accessory mineral. It usually forms only microscopic or tiny grains. Bigger bismuth crystalline masses are uncommon and nice formed natural crystals are incredibly rare.

Bismuth has been known since ancient times and was used in cosmetics and medicines. The name comes from the old German word "Wismuth" meaning white mass. It was confused in early times with tin and lead due to its resemblance to those elements. Bismuth is currently the most naturally diamagnetic element, which means it repels magnetic fields.\n\nBismuth is found as a trace element in bismuthinite and bismite ores. It is usually obtained as a byproduct from processing lead, copper, tin, silver and gold ores. Only a few mines worldwide actually extract bismuth alone in its oxychlorides and native form.