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Bismutite

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Hohenstein, Reichenbach, Bensheim, Odenwald, Hesse, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Bismutite Photos (43)
Formula:
(BiO)
 
2
CO
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow to brown, ...
Hardness:2½ - 3½
Name:In allusion to its bismuth-rich composition.


A common secondary Bi carbonate. Platy forms are visually indistinguishable from the Ca-Bi carbonates Beyerite and Kettnerite.

Classification of Bismutite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/0.0-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BE.25

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
E : With Pb, Bi
Dana 8th edition ID:16a.3.5.1

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.10.1

11 : Carbonates
10 : Carbonates of Bi
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Type Occurrence of Bismutite

Co-type Localities:Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Arme Hilfe Mine, Ullersreuth, Hirschberg, Vogtland, Thuringia, Germany
Year of Discovery:1841

Occurrences of Bismutite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zones of Bi-bearing ore deposits such as hydrothermal veins and in pegmatites containing bismuthinite and native bismuth.

Physical Properties of Bismutite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly, Dull, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Lustre grades to pearly in coarse, fibrous, and scaly material.
Colour:Yellow to brown, greenish, green-grey, grey or black; colourless or tinted in shades of faint yellow, green, etc. in transmitted light.
Streak:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {001} (observed only in microscopic grains).
Density (measured):6.7 - 7.4 g/cm3
Density (calculated):8.15 g/cm3

Crystallography of Bismutite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Imm2
Cell Parameters:a = 3.865Å, b = 3.862Å, c = 13.675Å
α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.001 : 1 : 3.541
Unit Cell Volume:V 204.1 ų
Z:2
Morphology:Prismatic structure at times. Pulverulent to dense earthy masses; opaline crusts; radially-fibrous crusts or spheroidal aggregates; scaly to lamellar aggregates rare.

Optical Data of Bismutite

Type:Uniaxial
RI values: nα = 2.120 - 2.150 nβ = 2.120 - 2.300
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 2.120

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

Chemical Properties of Bismutite

Formula:
(BiO)
 
2
CO
 
3
Essential elements:Bi, C, O
All elements listed in formula:Bi, C, O

Relationship of Bismutite to other Species

Common Associates:
SillénitePucheriteMixiteMalachiteLimonite
CerussiteBismuthiniteBismuthBismiteBeyerite
Arsenobismite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
5.BE.05Shannonite
Pb
 
2
[O|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.10Hydrocerussite
Pb
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
5.BE.15Plumbonacrite
Pb
 
5
O(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
5.BE.20Phosgenite
Pb
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.30Kettnerite
(BiO)Ca[F|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.35Beyerite
(Ca,Pb)(BiO)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
11.10.2Beyerite
(Ca,Pb)(BiO)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2

Other Names for Bismutite

Synonyms:
AgnesiteBismuthiteBismuthosphariteBismutosphaeriteCarbonate of Bismuth
Gregorite (of Adam)Normannite
German names:
AgnesitArsenwismuthBasobismutitBismuthospharitBismutit
BismutosphaeritBismutosphäritKohlensaures WismuthoxydLuftsaures WismuthNormannit
Wismuthspath
Spanish names:
AgnesitaBasobismutitaBismuthospharitaBismutitaBismutosphaerita
Normannita
Varieties:
Hydrobismutite

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids with effervescence.
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 Bismutite

Reference List:Beyer (1805) (as Luftsaures Wismuth)

Werner, A.G. (1817) Letztes Mineral-System. Freiberg and Vienna. A catalogue with notes: 56 (as Arsenikwismuth).

Breithaupt, A. (1841): Ueber das natürliche kohlensaure Wismutoxyd.- Poggendorffs Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 53, 627-630 (as Bismutit).

Rammelsberg (1849) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 76: 564.

Weisbach (1877) Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen: 49 (as Bismutosphärit).

Winkler in: Weisbach (1882) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 254.

Sperry in: Wells (1887) American Journal of Science: 34: 271.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 307.

Nenadkevich (1917) Bull. Ac. Sc., Petrograd: 11(6), 448, 454 (Hydrobismutite, Basobismutite).

Raoult analysis in: Lacroix, A. (1922) Minéralogie de Madagascar, Paris. 3 volumes: 1: 297.

Hintze, Carl (1929) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3404, 3406.

Mountain (1935) Mineralogical Magazine: 24: 62 (as Boksputite).

Frondel, C. (1943): Mineralogy of the oxides and carbonates of Bi. American Mineralogist 28, 521-535.

Heinrich (1947) American Mineralogist: 32: 365.

Lagercrantz and Sillén (1948) Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi, Stockholm: 25: 1.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 259-262.

Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi: 25A: 21.

Grice (2002): A solution to the crystal structures of bismutite and beyerite. Canadian Mineralogist: 40: 693-698.

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