Bismuthinite Mineral Data
General Bismuthinite Information
Chemical Formula:
Bi2S3
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 514.16 gm
Bismuth 81.29 % Bi
Sulfur 18.71 % S
______
100.00 %
Empirical Formula:
Bi2 S3
Environment:
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 vol canic exhalation deposits.
IMA Status:
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1832
Locality:
From the Llallagua, Huanuni, Tazna, and Chorolque districts, Potosi, Bolivia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
From the composition.
Name Pronunciation:
Bismuthinite
Synonym:
Bismuth Glance
Csiklovaite
ICSD 201066
PDF 17-320
Bismuthinite Image
Images:
Bismuthinite
Comments: Metallic, prismatic bismuthinite crystal topped with botryoidal marcasite.
Location: Veta Farellón viejo, Tazna, PotosÃ, Bolivia.
Scale: 4.4x1.3x0.4 cm.
© Fabre Minerals
Images:
Images:
Matildite Bismuth Bismuthinite
Comments: SEM image of native Bi replaced by bismuthinite and matildite. Black areas represent gangue minerals. (CanMin, v43:899).
Location: Uranium deposit at Niederschlema-Alberoda, Germany.
Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist
Bismuthinite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:b:c =0.9875:1:0.3522
Cell Dimensions:
a = 11.13, b = 11.27, c = 3.97, Z = 4; V = 497.98 Den(Calc)= 6.86
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pbnm
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 3.569(1), 3.118(0.8), 3.53(0.6),
Forms:
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Forms:
( 2 1 1)
( 3 1 1)
( 0 1 0)
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( 1 1 0)
( 3 0 1)
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Physical Properties of Bismuthinite
Cleavage:
{010} Perfect
Color:
Gray, Silver white, Tin white.
Density:
6.8 - 7.2, Average = 7
Diaphaneity:
Opaque
Fracture:
Brittle - Sectile - Brittle fracture with slightly sectile shavings possible.
Habit:
Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.
Habit:
Massive - Lamellar - Distinctly foliated fine-grained forms.
Habit:
Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).
Hardness:
2 - Gypsum
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Metallic
Magnetism:
Nonmagnetic
Streak:
gray
Optical Properties of Bismuthinite
Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Bismuthinite in Air
λ
R1
R 2
∑ R1 (λ)
∑ R2 (λ)
400 nm
40.50
49.60
420 nm
40.30
49.80
440 nm
40.10
50.00
460 nm
39.70
50.20
480 nm
39.20
50.40
500 nm
38.50
50.40
520 nm
38.10
50.30
540 nm
37.70
50.00
560 nm
37.40
49.60
580 nm
37.00
49.00
600 nm
36.80
48.50
620 nm
36.50
48.00
640 nm
36.20
47.40
660 nm
36.10
46.70
680 nm
35.80
45.80
700 nm
35.60
45.00
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Bismuthinite in Air
Relative Intensity
0%
30%
60%
90%
100%
120%
150%
180%
210%
240%
R1
R2
Calculated Properties of Bismuthinite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.71 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Bismuthinite =6.86 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0014040467 Boson Index = 0.9985959533
Photoelectric:
PEBismuthinite =1,572.72 barns/electronU=PEBismuthinite x r Electron Density=8,980.92 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Bismuthinite is Not Radioactive
Bismuthinite Classification
Dana Class:
02.11.02.03 (02) Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
(02.11) where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=2:3
(02.11.02) Stibnite Group (Orthorhombic: Pbnm)
02.11.02.01 Stibnite Sb2S3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.11.02.02 Antimonselite Sb2Se3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.11.02.03 Bismuthinite Bi2S3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.11.02.04 Guanajuatite Bi2Se3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
Strunz Class:
02.DB.05a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
02.D - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 3:4 and 2:3
02.DB -M:S = 2:3 and similar
02.DB.05a Antimonselite Sb2Se3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.DB.05a Bismuthinite Bi2S3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.DB.05a Guanajuatite Bi2Se3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
02.DB.05a Metastibnite Sb2S3 None
02.DB.05a Stibnite Sb2S3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
Other Bismuthinite Information
References:
NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Bismuthinite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - QUT Mineral Atlas
15 - Ruff.Info
16 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
17 - WWW-MINCRYST
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Bismuthinite
Bi2S3
Dana No: 02.11.02.03 Strunz No: 02.DB.05a
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