close
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Bismuthinite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About BismuthiniteHide

Formula:
Bi2S3
Colour:
Lead gray to tin white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
6.78
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
From the composition.
Isostructural with:

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
686
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:686:0

IMA Classification of BismuthiniteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Classification of BismuthiniteHide

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
B : M:S = 2:3
2.11.2.3

2 : SULFIDES
11 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:3
3.7.17

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
BinIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
BmtThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of BismuthiniteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead gray to tin white
Comment:
Yellowish or iridescent tarnish.
Streak:
Lead-gray
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}
imperfect on {100} {110}
Comment:
Somewhat sectile
Density:
6.78 g/cm3 (Measured)    6.81 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BismuthiniteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong, especially in oil
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm35.7% 46.2%
420nm36.4% 47.2%
440nm37.2% 47.9%
460nm37.7% 48.3%
480nm37.7% 48.8%
500nm37.6% 49.4%
520nm37.3% 49.6%
540nm37.1% 49.1%
560nm36.9% 48.7%
580nm36.8% 48.3%
600nm36.6% 47.8%
620nm36.4% 47.3%
640nm36.3% 46.8%
660nm36.1% 46.3%
680nm36.0% 45.8%
700nm35.9% 45.4%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 49.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Chemistry of BismuthiniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Bi2S3
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Bi81.291 %
S18.709 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Common Impurities:
Pb,Cu,Fe,As,Sb,Se,Te

Crystallography of BismuthiniteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.12 Å, b = 11.25 Å, c = 3.97 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.988 : 1 : 0.353
Unit Cell V:
496.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Stout prismatic to acicular.
Comment:
Space group Pbnm.

Crystallographic forms of BismuthiniteHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Image
Click on an icon to view
View 3D crystal model
Bismuthinite - {110}, {010}, {310}, modified
View 3D crystal model
Bismuthinite - {110}, {010}, modified
View 3D crystal model
Bismuthinite - {110}, {010}, {311}, modified
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0009004BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic0.0001293
0009005BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic0.97293
0009006BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic2.43293
0009007BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic3.53293
0009008BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic5.92293
0009009BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic7.22293
0009010BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic8.3293
0009011BismuthiniteLundegaard L F, Makovicky E, Boffa Ballaran T, Balic-Zunic T (2005) Crystal structure and cation lone electron pair activity of Bi2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 578-5842005synthetic9.18293
0008968BismuthiniteCaracas R, Gonze X (2005) First-principles study of the electronic properties of A2B3 minerals, with A=Bi,Sb and B=S,Se Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 295-30020050293
0003564BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003563BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #2 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003562BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #1 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003561BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003560BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003559BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
0003558BismuthiniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940Image20040293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.967 Å(40)
3.569 Å(100)
3.530 Å(60)
3.118 Å(80)
2.812 Å(50)
2.521 Å(40)
1.953 Å(40)
Comments:
Synthetic.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
11 : Volcanic fumarole minerals; reduced phases (see also #45)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)
Geological Setting:
Low to high-temperature hydrothermal veins

Synonyms of BismuthiniteHide

Other Language Names for BismuthiniteHide

Catalan:Bismutinita
Italian:Bismutina
Polish:Bizmutyn
Simplified Chinese:辉铋矿
Spanish:Bismutinita
Swedish:Vismutglans

Varieties of BismuthiniteHide

Antimony-bearing BismuthiniteAn antimony-bearing variety of bismuthinite (part of the solid-solution series with stibnite)
Selenium-bearing BismuthiniteAlmost certainly a member of a solid solution series between and guanajuatite.
Silver-bearing BismuthiniteMay contain inclusions of silver or a silver-bearing sulphosalt.

Relationship of Bismuthinite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Stibnite Group:
AntimonseliteSb2Se3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
GuanajuatiteBi2Se3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
StibniteSb2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Forms a series with:

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
374 photos of Bismuthinite associated with QuartzSiO2
315 photos of Bismuthinite associated with Native BismuthBi
244 photos of Bismuthinite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
210 photos of Bismuthinite associated with Native GoldAu
167 photos of Bismuthinite associated with FamatiniteCu3SbS4
131 photos of Bismuthinite associated with PyriteFeS2
119 photos of Bismuthinite associated with Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
106 photos of Bismuthinite associated with ArsenopyriteFeAsS
105 photos of Bismuthinite associated with CalciteCaCO3
92 photos of Bismuthinite associated with RammelsbergiteNiAs2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.DB.StangersiteSnGeS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.DB.05AntimonseliteSb2Se3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.05MetastibniteSb2S3Amor.
2.DB.05PääkköneniteSb2AsS2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.DB.05StibniteSb2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.DB.05GuanajuatiteBi2Se3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.10SuredaitePbSnS3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.10OttemanniteSn2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.DB.15KashiniteIr2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn
2.DB.15BowieiteRh2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn
2.DB.20Montbrayite(Au,Ag,Sb,Bi,Pb)23(Te,Sb,Bi,Pb)38Tric. 1 : P1
2.DB.25EdgariteFeNb3S6Hex. 6 : P63
2.DB.30Tarkianite(Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)4S8Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.DB.35CameroniteCu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.DB.40'Schreibersite (of Shephard)'Cr2S3

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Bismuth ore.

Bismuthinite in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Internet Links for BismuthiniteHide

References for BismuthiniteHide

Reference List:

Localities for BismuthiniteHide

Showing 2,566 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the Image symbol to view information about a locality. The Image symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListShow

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
 
Image Image
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: May 21, 2026 20:27:45 Page updated: May 20, 2026 16:15:49
Go to top of page