Mineral - Bismuthinite
Bismuthinite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Toxicity
low
Formula
Bi₂S₃
Unit Cell
a=11.12 b=11.25 c=3.97 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
2 - 2.5
Streak
gray
Density
Very Heavy (>6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {010}, imperfect after {100} and {110}
Fracture
Tenacity
Elastic-flexible
Optical Properties
Color
gray
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
orthorhombic
Point Group
orthorhombic-dipyramidal - 2/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
Pnma (62)
Habit
acicular, prismatic
Formation
In hydrothermal ore deposits
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Bismuthinite, Bismuth Glance, Grünlingite, Bismuthine, Bismutholamprite, Bismutinite
Composition
Elements
Mass
Bi
76.94
Se
8.80
S
14.15
Mexico (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Stibnite-Group