Tellurobismuthite is a soft, sectile bismuth telluride that typically appears as metallic, silver-white foliated masses. It is often found in hydrothermal ore deposits and is highly prized by collectors for its distinctive metallic luster and perfect basal cleavage, which makes it look similar to flaky molybdenite.
Is this tellurobismuthite?
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 tellurobismuthite with a known reference. Tellurobismuthite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale lead-gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic, splendent on fresh cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, platy.
Often confused with
Tellurobismuthite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tellurobismuthite leaves pale lead-gray, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tellurobismuthite leaves pale lead-gray, Molybdenite leaves bluish gray.
Often found alongside tellurobismuthite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tellurobismuthite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₂Te₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 7.815 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale lead-gray
- Luster
- Metallic, splendent on fresh cleavages
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- Typically formed in hydrothermal gold-quartz veins of low sulfur content
Where rockhounds find tellurobismuthite
Classic worldwide localities
- Field’s vein, Dahlonega, Lumpkin Co., Georgia (type locality), USA
- Tellurium mine, Fluvanna Co., Virginia, USA
- Little Mildred mine, near Hachita, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Campbell mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- A number of minor occurrences, as at the Hunter mine, Khutze Inlet, near Swanson Bay, Canada
- Lucky Jim mine, Quadra Island, and at the Ashloo mine, near Squamish, Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically formed in hydrothermal gold-quartz veins of low sulfur content. If you start seeing gold, bismuth, gold tellurides in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tellurobismuthite?+
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Find tellurobismuthite on the map
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