Bismuthinite

Formula:  Bi2S3

Origin of name:  From composition

 

Crystal system:  Orthorhombic

Crystal class:  2/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 11.15 Ǻ, b = 11.30 Ǻ, c = 3.981 Ǻ

 

Colour:  Lead-gray to tin-white

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Metallic

Habit:  Crystals stout to slender prismatic, acicular, sometimes dipyramidal; massive, foliated, fibrous

Hardness:  2

Specific gravity:  6.78

Cleavage:  3; {010} perfect, {100} and {110} imperfect

Tenacity:  Flexible, sectile

Streak:  Lead-grey

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: Typically found in low- to high-temperature hydrothermal vein deposits, in tourmaline-bearing copper deposits in granite, in some gold veins formed at high temperatures and in recent volcanic exhalation deposits.

 

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