Bismuthinite  (inclusions in Quartz)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Bismuthinite is named for its composition containing mostly Bismuth.

Discovered in 1832;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Bi₂S₃

Bismuth Sulfide

Molecular Weight:

514.16 gm

Composition:

Bismuth

8129 %

Bi

Sulfur

18.71 %

S

100.00 %

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Sulfides

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

2/D.08-40

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

2.DB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3

Related to:

Stibnite Group. Aikinite-Bismuthinite Series.

Members of Group:

Stibnite Group: Antimonselite, Bismuthinite, Guanajuatite, Stibnite

Varieties:

Antimonian Bismuthinite, Argentiferous Bismuthinite, Horobetsuite

Synonyms:

Bismuth Glance, Bismuthine, Bismutholamprite, Bismutinite, Csiklovaite

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals, up to 12 cm, stout prismatic to acicular, elongated and striated || [001]. Commonly massive with foliated or fibrous texture.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect and Easy on {010}, Imperfect on {100} and {110}

Fracture:

Sectile

Tenacity:

Flexible, somewhat Sectile

Moh's Hardness:

2.0 - 2.5

Density:

6.78 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Lead-Gray to tin-White, with a Yellowish or iridescent tarnish

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

R1–R2: (400) 35.7–46.2, (420) 36.4–47.2, (440) 37.2–47.9, (460) 37.7–48.3, (480) 37.7–48.8, (500) 37.6–49.4, (520) 37.3–49.6, (540) 37.1–49.1, (560) 36.9–48.7, (580) 36.8–48.3, (600) 36.6–47.8, (620) 36.4–47.3, (640) 36.3–46.8, (660) 36.1–46.3, (680) 36.0–45.8, (700) 35.9–45.4

Birefringence:

0.000

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

None

Anisotrophism:

Strong, especially in oil

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Typically in low- to high-temperature hydrothermal vein deposits, in tourmaline-bearing copper deposits in granite, in some gold veins formed at high temperatures, and in recent volcanic exhalation deposits.

Common Associations:

Bismuth, Aikinite, Arsenopyrite, Stannite, Galena, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Tourmaline, Wolframite, Cassiterite, Quartz

Common Impurities:

Pb, Cu, Fe, As, Sb, Se, Te

Type Locality:

Llallagua, Huanuni, Tazna, and Chorolque districts, Potosi, Bolivia

Year Discovered:

1832

View mineral photos:

Bismuthinite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Bismuthinite can be an attractive mineral for collectors when is in the form of steel gray prismatic crystals radiating outward from a common point. These radiating groups of crystals can be very similar to specimens of Stibnite and are difficult to distinguish from this closely related mineral. Bismuthinite is rarely mentioned in gem circles except maybe as attractive inclusions in Quartz. More specifically, in Rose Quartz from a source in Madagascar.

Distribution of Bismuthinite is widespread. From the Llallagua, Huanuni, Tazna, and Chorolque districts, Potosí, Bolivia. From Guanajuato, Mexico. In the USA, large crystals at the Victoria mine, Dolly Varden district, Elko County; in a number of mines in the Goldfield district, Esmeralda County, and elsewhere in Nevada. From Moravicza and Baita (Rézbánya), Romania. At Schneeberg and Altenberg, Saxony, Germany. From a number of mines in Cornwall, England. In the Mt. Biggenden mine, Queensland, Australia. At Fefena, Madagascar. Exceptional crystals from Spind, Farsum, Norway.
 

  
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