Native Iridium-osmium

A rare old red wax-sealed glass miniature bottle filled with metallic silver-grey grains of Native Iridium-Osmium, a natural alloy.  From the Urals Region of Russia, the grains of Native Iridium-Osmium measure to around 1 mm and the accompanying old label states “10 drs”, an old unit of weight, the dram or drachm used by apothecaries.  I cannot weigh the contents as this would break the seal, but the weight of bottle plus content is 12.6 grammes.  Iridium is atomic number 49 and Osmium, 76.  This is the most charming of objects and a gorgeous piece of mineralogical history.