Bismuth
Bismuth ended up being named from the German words Weisse masse, later Wasmuth, meaning mass that is a white allusion to its native colour. Bismuth belongs to the Arsenic Group of minerals that include Antimony, Arsenic and Bismuth. Bismuth is really an element that is native. Native element minerals are elements that occur in nature uncombined with other elements along with a mineral structure that is distinct. An element that is native a pure chemical substance consisting of a single kind of atom. Bismuth has only Bismuth (Bi) atoms instead of a mineral such as Quartz who has two kinds of atoms; silicon (Si) and air (O) or other more complex minerals that contain various types of atoms.
Bismuth is seldom discovered in nature in its elemental form. Nevertheless, laboratory-grown Bismuth crystals are plentiful. These crystals which can be lab-gown very attractive and intriguing and very collectable as each one is unique in colour and shape. They are pseudocubic “hopper” or “hoppered” crystals. Hopper crystals are a definite unique curiosity that is crystallographic that simply the crystals edges extend outward from the centre of the crystal making faces that stair step down toward the middle of the crystal. The hopper crystals form due to the disparity of development rates between the crystal edges and the faces that are crystal. The lab-grown crystals are very colourful with an iridescent rainbow that is metallic.
Bismuth is unusual in that it is a mineral that is diamagnetic. Bismuth is considered the most element that is naturally diamagnetic has one of this lowest values of thermal conductivity among metals. Diamagnetism is a type of magnetism where particular minerals are repelled by an externally applied magnetic industry, and from internal induced magnetic industries within the direction opposing to that of the used field that is magnetic. Some minerals, such as Xenotime, are paramagnetic in comparison with this behaviour. Paramagnetism is really an as a type of magnetism where certain minerals are attracted by an externally applied magnetic field, and form internal, induced magnetic industries in the direction of the used field that is magnetic.
Bismuth is present in many localities, but typically as a small mineral that is the accessory. From Altenberg, Schneeberg, and Annaberg, Saxony, Germany. At Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Czech Republic. From near Villanueva de Córdoba, Córdoba Province, Spain. In the Dolcoath and other mines, Cornwall, England. From Uncia, Chorolque, Llallagua, and Tazna, Potosí, Bolivia, economically important. An 11 kg nugget found at Velasquez, La Paz, Bolivia. In the Mt. Arthur mine, Queensland, and from Kingsgate, brand new South Wales, Australia. Large crystals at Natsukidani, Oita Prefecture, Japan. From Cobalt, Ontario, Canada.
| Chemical Formula: | Bi |
| Bismuth (native element) | |
| Molecular Weight: | 208.98 gm |
| Composition: | Bismuth | 100.00 % | Bi | ||
| 100.00 % |
| Crystallography: | Trigonal – Hexagonal Scalenohedral |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals, to 12 cm, but indistinct, commonly in parallel groupings, or hoppered; reticulated, arborescent, foliated, granular. |
| Twinning: | Polysynthetic, common |
| Cleavage: | Perfect on {0001}, good on {1011}, poor on {1014}. |
| Fracture: | Irregular/Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Sectile, brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 2.0 – 2.5; Vickers: VHN100=16 – 18 kg/mm2 |
| Density: | 9.70 – 9.83 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | None |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Other: | Diamagnetic. Bismuth is the most naturally diamagnetic element and has one of the lowest values of thermal conductivity among metals |
| Color: | Silver-white, with a reddish blue, often with a multicolored iridescent tarnish; in polished section, brilliant creamy white, tarnishing yellow. |
| Transparency: | Opaque |
| Luster: | Metallic |
| Refractive Index: | R1–R2: (400) 47.0–58.2, (420) 49.3–58.8, (440) 51.4–59.7, (460) 52.9–60.9, (480) 54.4–62.4, (500) 56.2–63.9, (520) 57.8–65.3, (540) 59.3–66.6, (560) 60.4–67.8, (580) 61.4–69.0, (600) 62.4–69.9, (620) 63.1–70.7, (640) 63.6–71.5, (660) 63.9–72.2, (680) 64.0–72.8, (700) 64.1–73.2 |
| Birefringence: | 0.00 (opaque) |
| Dispersion: | n/a |
| Pleochroism: | Weak |
| Anisotropism: | Distinct; brilliant creamy white, tarnishing to yellow |
