Bismuth
Image: Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) (FAL)
Mineral NameBismuth
Chemical FormulaBi
Mohs Hardness2
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorsilvery-white to gray
Cleavageperfect on {0001}
Fractureuneven to hackly
Specific Gravity9.78
Colorssilvery-white, pinkish, reddish, iridescent (yellow, blue, green, purple)
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityBolivia, Australia, Germany, Canada, China, Mexico, Peru (for natural occurrences); synthetic crystals are widely produced.
Mineral GroupNative Elements
Usesalloys (low melting point), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pigments, lead-free shot, thermoelectric materials, collector specimens
Associated Mineralsquartz, arsenopyrite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, cassiterite, wolframite, gold, silver
Raritycommon
Description
The image showcases synthetically grown bismuth crystals, characterized by their striking iridescent surface colors (blues, purples, yellows, greens) and distinctive stepped, hopper crystal habit, presented alongside a 1 cm³ bismuth cube for scale.
Geological Context
Native bismuth is a relatively rare mineral, typically found in hydrothermal veins associated with tin, tungsten, silver, and gold deposits, or in pegmatites and contact metamorphic zones, forming under reducing conditions.
