Bismuth
Image: Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) (FAL)
Mineral NameBismuth
Chemical FormulaBi
Mohs Hardness2.25
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorsilvery-white to gray
Cleavageperfect on {0001}
Fractureuneven to subconchoidal
Specific Gravity9.78
Colorssilvery-white
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityWorldwide (e.g., Bolivia, Germany, Australia, China) for natural occurrences; these are synthetic.
Mineral GroupNative Elements
Usesalloys, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pigments, thermoelectric materials, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, cassiterite, wolframite, native gold, silver, arsenopyrite
Rarityuncommon
Description
The image shows several synthetically grown bismuth hopper crystals, characterized by their intricate, stepped, and skeletal forms, alongside a polished 1 cm³ bismuth cube, all exhibiting a bright, silvery-white metallic luster.
Geological Context
Natural bismuth occurs as a native element in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and contact metamorphic deposits, often associated with tin, tungsten, and silver ores. The crystals shown are synthetic, grown by controlled cooling of molten bismuth.
