Bismuthinite is the primary ore of bismuth and is best identified by its heavy weight and characteristic lead-gray metallic color. It frequently forms long, striated acicular or bladed crystals within hydrothermal quartz veins, often looking very similar to stibnite.
Is this bismuthinite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch bismuthinite with a known reference. Bismuthinite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bismuthinite leaves a lead-gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bismuthinite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, tin-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, bladed, massive, fibrous.
Often confused with
Bismuthinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bismuthinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bismuthinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₂S₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.7-6.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Lead-gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Bladed, Massive, Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Bismuth
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-150 depending on specimen size and crystal quality
Where rockhounds find bismuthinite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bolivia
- China
- Japan
- Germany
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where bismuthinite typically forms. If you start seeing bismuth, arsenopyrite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, bladed, massive, fibrous habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Connecticut. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find bismuthinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
