Mineralpedia Details for Bismuthinite
Bismuthinite
Named for the bismuth in the composition. Bismuthinite is a relatively common mineral with over one thousand localities including in Bolivia, the United States, Romania, Germany, England, Australia, Madagascar, and Norway. Found generally in hydrothermal vein deposits of a range of temperature, in tourmaline-bearing copper deposits in granite, high temperature gold veins, and in volcanic exhalation deposits. Associated minerals include bismuth, aikinite, arsenopyrite, stannite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tourmaline, wolframite, cassiterite, and quartz.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/bismuthinite.pdf
- Formula
- Bi2S3
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Prismatic, Massive - Lamellar, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Metallic
- Color
- gray, silver white, tin white
- Streak
- gray
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle - Sectile
- Hardness
- 2
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Bismuthinite from Brosso mine, Calea, Torino, Piedmont, Italy
Long prismatic silvery crystals to 4.5cm in brown Siderite matrix.
Bismuthinite from Fowey Consols mine, St. Austell dist., Cornwall, England
Bismuthinite crystals to about 2-3cm.
Bismuthinite from Llallagua, Bolivia
Dark grey metallic crystal blades to 8mm in matrix.
Bismuthinite from Krupka, Erzgebirge, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Acicular grey crystals to 1mm in vug with larger in matrix.
