As a commodity samarium has few major uses besides specialized magnets and sparklers and maybe a few other very niche uses. Consequently, it is sold at low cost and our supplier confides that it can be difficult finding buyers for it. The growing collector market however views samarium much more positively. Despite its low cost it is arguably the most attractive of all the rare earth metals as it forms beautiful dendrites at 99.99% or higher purity.

Unfortunately, samarium is quite vulnerable to atmospheric oxygen which turns the metal dull gray within a matter of weeks. Strangely, sometimes sectrons of a piece of samarium will remain oxide free while elsewhere it succumbs to oxidation despite being equally exposed. This uneven oxidation may be explained in microscopic differences on the surface which their topology somehow offers differing amounts of susceptibility.

No worries about luster decay with this dome. The samarium crystal within will stay looking bright and fresh thanks to its being pumped full of argon gas. The crystal itself can be described as a patchy bulb comprising an untold number of smaller blobs jostling together to reach forward without any one reaching supremacy. It would provide for a wonderful study under magnification!