Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Bismoclite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Croft Gothal Mine, St Hilary, Mount's Bay District, Cornwall, England, UK
© Rust

Show Bismoclite Photos (19)



Formula:
(BiO)Cl
System:TetragonalColour:Cream-white, greyish, ...
Hardness:2 - 2½
Member of:Matlockite Group
Name:In allusion to the ions it is apparently composed of: BISMuth, Oxide and ChLoride (actually, like many secondary bismuth minerals, it contains bismuthyl ions, BiO+, and thus is more correctly named bismuthyl chloride)


Matlockite Group.

Very plastic.

Classification of Bismoclite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.0-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DC.25

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
C : With Pb (As,Sb,Bi), without Cu
Dana 8th edition ID:10.2.1.2

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
2 : A(O,OH)Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.9.5

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
9 : Halides of Sb and Bi
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-683.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Bismoclite

Type Locality:Jakkalswater (Jackal's Water; Noumas I pegmatite; Blesberg mine), Steinkopf, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Year of Discovery:1935
Geological Setting of type material:In an alluvial specimen, found near bismuth-bearing granite pegmatites
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Mica GroupBismutite

Occurrences of Bismoclite

Geological Setting:In granite pegmatites; in greisen

Physical Properties of Bismoclite

Lustre:Greasy, Silky, Pearly, Dull, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Cream-white, greyish, yellowish brown; colourless in thin section
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Tenacity:Elastic
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}
Density (measured):7.36 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.784 g/cm3

Crystallography of Bismoclite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P4/nmm {P4/n 21/m 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 3.887Å, c = 7.354Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.892
Unit Cell Volume:V 111.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals minute, scaly or thin rectangular, rarely with corners truncated at 45°; often columnar-fibrous, earthy, compact or massive.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.44 (100)
2.677 (95)
2.753 (75)
7.38 (40)
1.946 (35)
2.205 (30)
1.574 (30)
Comments:Recorded on synthetic material

Optical Data of Bismoclite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.150 nε = 1.910
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.240

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High

Chemical Properties of Bismoclite

Formula:
(BiO)Cl
Essential elements:Bi, Cl, O
All elements listed in formula:Bi, Cl, O
Analytical Data:Chemical analyses of material from Jakkalswater, South Africa (1) and from Goldfield, Nevada, USA (2), the latter recalculated to 100.00 wt.-% after deduction of quartz (34.81 wt.-%) and Fe2O3 (0.28 wt.-%)
            (1)      (2)

Fe2O3      (0.12)
Bi2O3     (88.49)  (88.53)
Cl        (13.00)  (12.51)
H2O+       (0.87)   (1.58)
H2O-                (0.20)
insol.     (0.77)
-O = Cl2   (2.93)   (2.82)

sum       100.32   100.00 wt.-%
Common Impurities:Fe,OH

Relationship of Bismoclite to other Species

Member of:Matlockite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Daubréeite
(BiO)(OH,Cl)
Laurionite
PbCl(OH)
Matlockite
PbFCl
Paralaurionite
PbCl(OH)
Rorisite
CaFCl
Zavaritskite
(BiO)F
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DC.05Laurionite
PbCl(OH)
3.DC.05Paralaurionite
PbCl(OH)
3.DC.10Fiedlerite
Pb
 
3
FCl
 
4
(OH) · H
 
2
O
3.DC.15Penfieldite
Pb
 
2
Cl
 
3
(OH)
3.DC.20Laurelite
Pb
 
7
F
 
12
Cl
 
2
3.DC.25Daubréeite
(BiO)(OH,Cl)
3.DC.25Matlockite
PbFCl
3.DC.25Rorisite
CaFCl
3.DC.25Zavaritskite
(BiO)F
3.DC.25Zhangpeishanite
BaFCl
3.DC.30Nadorite
PbSbClO
 
2
3.DC.30Perite
PbBiClO
 
2
3.DC.35Aravaipaite
Pb
 
3
F
 
3
[AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.DC.37Calcioaravaipaite
PbCa
 
2
AlF
 
9
3.DC.40Thorikosite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
2
(OH)(SbO
 
3
,AsO
 
3
)
3.DC.45Mereheadite
Pb
 
47
Cl
 
25
(OH)
 
13
O
 
24
(CO
 
3
)(BO
 
3
)
 
2
3.DC.50Blixite
Pb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
3.DC.55Pinalite
Pb
 
3
WO
 
5
Cl
 
2
3.DC.60Symesite
Pb
 
10
(SO
 
4
)O
 
7
Cl
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
3.DC.65Ecdemite
Pb
 
6
Cl
 
4
(As
 
2
O
 
7
)
3.DC.65Heliophyllite
Pb
 
6
Cl
 
4
(As
 
2
O
 
7
)
3.DC.70Mendipite
Pb
 
3
Cl
 
2
O
 
2
3.DC.75Damaraite
Pb
 
3
Cl(OH)O
 
2
3.DC.80Onoratoite
Sb
 
8
Cl
 
2
O
 
11
3.DC.85Cotunnite
PbCl
 
2
3.DC.90Pseudocotunnite
K
 
2
PbCl
 
4
3.DC.95Barstowite
Pb
 
4
Cl
 
6
(CO
 
3
) · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.9.1Onoratoite
Sb
 
8
Cl
 
2
O
 
11
8.9.2Kelyanite
(Hg
+
2
)
 
6
Sb
3+
 
BrCl
 
2
O
 
6
8.9.3Gananite
BiF
 
3
8.9.4Zavaritskite
(BiO)F
8.9.6Daubréeite
(BiO)(OH,Cl)
8.9.7Perite
PbBiClO
 
2

Other Names for Bismoclite

Other Languages:
German:Bismoclit
Russian:Бисмоклит
Simplified Chinese:氯铋矿
Spanish:Bismoclita

Other Information

Other Information:Totally soluble in acids. Re-precipitates upon considerable dilution.

Very plastic.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Bismoclite

Reference List:

- +
Means (1916) American Journal of Science: 41: 125 (as Daubréeite ?).

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 66.

Bannister (1935) Mineralogical Magazine: 24: 49.

Mountain (1935) Mineralogical Magazine: 24: 59.

American Mineralogist (1935), 20, 813.

Mountain, E. D. (1937): Two new bismuth minerals from South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine 24, 59-64.

Frondel, C. (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 526.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 60-62.

Keramidas, K. G., Voutsas, G. P. and Rentzepris, P. I. (1993): The crystal structure of BiOCl. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 205, 35-40.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 61.

Internet Links for Bismoclite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Bismoclite on Google
  • Look for Bismoclite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Bismoclite on Webmineral
  • Look for Bismoclite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Bismoclite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Bismoclite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Bismoclite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • Search for - Bismoclite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Minerals from Darwin Natural History
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Find Bismoclite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Bismoclite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Blaxland Co.
        • Mount Allen
    		NSW Geological Survey - Nymagee Mineral Deposit Data Sheets DW Suppel and LB Gilligan (1993)
      • Bourke Co.
        • Ardlethan
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 1093.
      • Gipps Co.
        • Ardlethan
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 62; Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 61
      • Gough Co.
        • Elsmore
    		Rankin, J., Sharpe, J. L. & Williams, P. A. (2008): Mineralogical note: Waylandite from Elsmore, New South Wales. Australian J. of Mineralogy 14, 79-80.
        • Kingsgate
    		Sharpe, J.L., & Williams P.A. (2004) - Secondary bismuth and molybdenum minerals from Kingsgate, New England district of New South Wales.- Australian Journal of Mineralogy, vol.10, n°1.
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		Pring, A., Francis, G. & Birch, W. D. (1992): Nissonite, namibite, and other additions to the mineral suite from Iron Monarch, South Australia. Australian Mineral. 6, 31-39; [MinRec 29:164]
    • Victoria
      • Pittong
    		Birch, W.D., Grey, I.E., Mills, S.J., Bougerol, C., Pring, A., Ansermet, S. (2007): Pittongite, a new secondary tungstate from Pittong, Victoria, Australia. Canadian Mineralogist, 45, 857-864.
    • Western Australia
      • Leonora Shire
    		Grguric, B.A., Madsen, I.C. (2002) Bismoclite from the Leinster area, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, Vol. 8, No. 2, pg. 83-85.
      • Yilgarn shire
        • Mount Holland pegmatite field
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 61
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Nor Chichas Province
        • Atocha-Quechisla District
    		[MinRec 32:481]
    Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) Los Minerales de Bolivia y sus Parajes. (Santa Cruz); Amer.Min.(1982) 67, 833-840
      • Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province)
        • Llallagua
    		Mineralogical Record: 32: 474.; Hyrsl, J. & A. Petrov (2006): Famous Mineral Localities: Llallagua, Bolivia. Mineralogical Record. 37: 117-162
    Brazil
     
    • Bahia
      • Juazeiro
    		Färber, G. & Witzke, T. (2011): Exotische Pseudomorphosen aus Brasilien: Waylandit nach Wismutglanz. Lapis 36 (5), 42-43.
    • Paraíba
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Pedra Lavrada
    		A. Bhaskara Rao and M. S. Adusumilli (1965): Bismoclite from Brazil. Can. Mineral. 8, 390-391.
    • Rio Grande do Norte
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Equador
    		Re-entry of old data; Färber, G. & Witzke, T. (2011): Exotische Pseudomorphosen aus Brasilien: Waylandit nach Wismutglanz. Lapis 36 (5), 42-43.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Santa Catalina
          • Guanaco (Huanaco)
    		M. Dini collection
    France
     
    • Corsica
      • Corse-du-Sud
        • Testa
    		Lheur, C., Meisser,N., Pecorini, R. and Steinmetz, A. (2011): Nouveautés minéralogiques en Corse. La Régne Minéral. 102: 33-40
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Var
        • Le Pradet
          • Cap Garonne Mine
    		Cap Garonne mine museum
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Böckelsbach valley
    		K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
            • Heubach Valley
    		No reference listed
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Siegerland
        • Gosenbach
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Greece
     
    • Attikí Prefecture (Attica; Attika)
      • Lavrion District (Laurion; Laurium)
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Sounion area
            • Sounion Mines
    		Lapis, 24, 7/8 (1999)
    Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Cagliari Province
        • Sarroch
    		Orlandi, P., Demartin, F., Pasero, M., Leveret,P., William, P.A., Hibbs,D.E., (2011), Gelosaite BiMo6+(2–5x)Mo5+6xO7(OH)·H2O (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4), a new mineral from Su Senargiu (CA), Sardinia, Italy, and a second occurrence from Kingsgate, New England, Australia. Am. Min.: 96: 268 - 273.
      • Olbia-Tempio Pausania Province
        • La Maddalena
          • La Maddalena Island
    		Billows, E. (1941): I minerali della Sardegna ed i loro giacimenti. Sardegna Mineraria, Istituto per gli studi Sardi, Regia Università di Cagliari.
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
          • Lipari
            • Vulcano Island
    		Campostrini I. et al - Vulcano: ein aussergewohnlicher Fundpunkt von neuen und seltenen Mineralien - MineralienWelt 2010 - nr.3 - p.40-57
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Rio Marina
    		Maggie Wilson
    G. Marinelli, 1959 - I minerali di bismuto del cantiere Falcacci a Rio Marina (Isola d'Elba). - Atti Soc. Tosc. Sc. Nat., Mem. Serie A, 66: 337-352.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto region
        • Tochigi Prefecture
          • Ashio
    		Ii & Hori (1992) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 159.
    • Kyushu Region
      • Nansei Archipelago
        • Kagoshima Prefecture
          • Yakushima-cho
            • Yakushima Island
    		Hori Mineralogy, Tokyo
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast')
      • Betpakdala Desert (Bet-Pak-Dal Desert)
    		P.M. Kartashov data; Evseev, A. A. (1995) Kazaknstan and Middle Asia. A brief Mineralogical Guide. World of Stone 8:24-30
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
        • Okongava Ost Farm 72
    		- Bezing, L. von, Bode, R. & Jahn, S. (2007): Namibia. Mineralien und Fundstellen. Edition Schloss Freudenstein, Bode Verlag, Haltern, 411 pp. (in English)
    Norway
     
    • Nordland
      • Sørfold
    		Ellingsen, H.V., Andersen, T. & Haugen, A., (2000): Nye mineraler fra amazonittpegmatitten ved Tennvatn, Nordland. Norsk Bergverksmuseums Skriftserie 17, 52-58.
    • Telemark
      • Drangedal
        • Tørdal
    		Kristiansen, R. (2008): Nye mineralfunn i Norge. STEIN 35 (1): 17-21
    Pacific Ocean
     
    • East Pacific Rise
      • Juan de Fuca Ridge complex
        • Southern Gorda Ridge
    		Eos Trans. AGU, 81 (48), Fall Meet. Suppl., 2000
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    		Zelenski, M. & Bortnikova, S. (2005): Sublimate speciation at Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka. European Journal of Mineralogy, 17, 107-118.
      • Sakhalinskaya Oblast'
        • Kuril Islands
          • Iturup Island
    		http://maurice.strahlen.org/kurilles/kurilles.htm
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Namaqualand
        • Steinkopf
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1935): 24: 59-62; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 61.
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad)
      • Adrasman
        • Karamazar Mts
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 61
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • St Hilary
    		[UKJMM 17 (1996) p.17]
    Tindle, A.G. (2008) Minerals of Britian and Ireland
      • Dumfries & Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire)
        • Dalbeattie
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 61
        • Needle's Eye
    		R. S. W. Braithwaite and J. R. Knight (1990) Rare Minerals, Including Several New to Britain, in Supergene Alteration of U-Cu-As-Bi-Co Mineralisation Near Dalbeattie, South Scotland. Mineralogical Magazine 54:129-131.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Inyo Mts (Inyo Range)
          • Manzanar Station area
    		Adams, Paul (2010) The Brown Monster and Reward Mines Inyo County, California. Mineralogical Record 41:175-193.
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
        • Goldfield District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Manhattan District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
        • Round Mountain District
    		[MinRec 22:181]; Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 27, pp. 355-376(1988)
    Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 27, pp. 355-376(1988)
    • Utah
      • Juab Co.
        • East Tintic Mts
          • Tintic District
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 62.
    Means, A H "Some New Mineral Occurences From The Tintic District, Utah" American Journal of Science Vol 41, Noi 241 (1916) pp 125-30; Means, A H "Some New Mineral Occurences From The Tintic District, Utah" American Journal of Science Vol 41, Noi 241 (1916) pp 125-30
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 62.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 22nd May 2013 15:38:25
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds