If musical notes were associated with the elements zinc might be paired with a sad trombone sound. It sits in the doldrums of Luciteria sales, competing with lead for least loved. This is in large part due to its ubiquity and overall cheapness. Although used in large quantities in every nameable industry, zinc’s use in its pure form is much rarer despite its low cost. This is because it doesn’t hold up well in the environment. It tarnishes easily and quickly progresses as the corrosion attacks beneath the surface promptly turning wahtever was made out of it into a crumbling mess. Oddly, applied as a thin coating on steel it becomes a barrier to deterioration. Anything advertised as “galvanized” is coated in this metal.

This is zinc at its fanciest and costliest. A lab-grown crystal takes on a number of very interesting textures that somehow coexist on limited real estate and beckon the viewer’s attention. Zinc has a subtle cyan color that becomes obvious when placed next to another metal like steel. The protective glass dome will maintain the delicate structure intact for as long as it doesn’t break.