Favorite Samples (15)

These are the elements that make up my favorite samples. Some of them I like because they are big and chunky, some because they are unusual, some have particularly good entries in the website, etc. They are in order with favorite first.

Click any element tile below to get the full entry for that element, or click on the sample picture to go directly to the description of that sample.

Text and images Copyright (c) 2010 by Theodore W. Gray.
Tungsten
Tungsten Surplus 11 pound metal cylinder
Incredibly heavy, the same density as gold, this cylinder amazes everyone.

Source: Neil Lipson
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 29 May, 2002
Price: $315
Size: 3"
Purity: 96.3%
Hafnium
Hafnium Heavy 290g lump
The most remarkable metal surface I've seen. Don't miss the 3D rotatable version.

Source: eBay seller rubbleshop
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 19 October, 2002
Text Updated: 4 May, 2007
Price: $18
Size: 2"
Purity: 99.25%
Iron
Iron Meteorite
An actual rock from space, four whole pounds of it.

Source: eBay seller meteoritesandmore
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 10 October, 2005
Text Updated: 11 August, 2007
Price: $1000
Size: 5"
Purity: >90%
Cesium
Cesium Sealed glass ampule, 99.98%
Hold it in your hand and it melts into liquid gold.

Source: David Franco
Contributor: David Franco
Acquired: 11 June, 2002
Text Updated: 14 August, 2006
Price: Donated
Size: 2"
Purity: 99.98%
Uranium
Uranium Depleted uranium cylinder
A cylinder you will not see every day.

Source: Anonymous
Contributor: Anonymous
Acquired: 21 December, 2002
Price: Trade
Size: 2"
Purity: 99%
Silicon
Silicon Silicon Boule Top
Beautiful shape and very pure.

Source: SoCal (Nevada), Inc
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 11 May, 2002
Price: $30
Size: 4"
Purity: 99.9999%
Copper
Copper Electrochemically grown crystal
The stereoscopic view is wonderful.

Source: eBay seller judys-1000s-treasures
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 22 February, 2003
Text Updated: 5 March, 2006
Price: $11.50
Size: 2"
Purity: >99%
Lead
Lead Atomic Potluck II
Forty pound potato chip bowl.

Source: Theodore Gray
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 3 August, 2002
Price: Donated
Size: 9"
Purity: >95%
Radium
Radium An actual Revigator
You've got to read the booklet that came with this.

Source: eBay seller bettyboop
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 13 November, 2002
Text Updated: 11 March, 2007
Price: $90
Size: 12"
Purity: <0.1%
Sample Group: Medical
Zirconium
Zirconium Slice of Historical Sample
Historically significant slice of metal.

Source: Randall Fullman
Contributor: Randall Fullman
Acquired: 26 June, 2002
Price: Donated
Size: 3"
Purity: >99.99%
Iron
Iron Civil war canister shot
The very essence of metal.

Source: Chris Carlson
Contributor: Chris Carlson
Acquired: 5 June, 2002
Price: Donated
Size: 2.5"
Purity: >99%
Bromine
Bromine Gas in a bulb
A gas as thick as pea soup.

Source: Tryggvi Emilsson and Timothy Brumleve
Contributor: Tryggvi Emilsson and Timothy Brumleve
Acquired: 21 September, 2002
Text Updated: 4 May, 2007
Price: Donated
Size: 3"
Purity: 99.9%
Gold
Gold Three ounce bar
We keep it locked up.

Source: George (not 007) Lazenby
Contributor: George (not 007) Lazenby
Acquired: 21 October, 2002
Price: Donated
Size: 3"
Purity: 99.42%
Titanium
Titanium Hip joint socket
A beautiful cup with a very interesting surface.

Source: Paul Wellin
Contributor: Paul Wellin
Acquired: 14 June, 2002
Text Updated: 16 March, 2009
Price: Donated
Size: 2.25"
Purity: >90%
Sample Group: Body Parts+Medical
Titanium
Titanium Museum-grade sample
Lovely drumsticks, industrial waste of the highest order.

Source: Theodore Gray
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 15 November, 2004
Text Updated: 11 August, 2007
Price: See Listing
Size: 6"
Purity: >99.99%
Sample Group: RGB Samples