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 — that is 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.
