Tellurobismuthite

Tellurobismuthite is a telluride mineral: bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3). It crystallizes in the trigonal system. There are natural cleavage planes in the (0001) direction as the crystal is effectively lamellar (layered) in that plane. The Mohs hardness is 1.5 - 2 and the specific gravity is 7.815. It is a dull grey color, which exhibits a splendent luster on fresh cleavage planes.[3]

Tellurobismuthite
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		Bi2Te3
Strunz classification2.DC.05
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classHexagonal scalenohedral (3m)
H-M symbol: (3 2/m)
Space groupR3m
Unit cella = 4.43, c = 29.91 [Å]; Z = 3
Identification
ColorPale lead-gray; white in polished section
Crystal habitFoliated masses and irregular plates
CleavagePerfect on {0001}
TenacityFlexible, sectile
Mohs scale hardness1.5 - 2
LusterMetallic
StreakLead gray
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity7.815
References[1][2][3]

Discovery and occurrence

It was first described in 1815 and type localities include the Mosnap mine in Toke, Telemark, Norway; the Little Mildred mine, Sylvanite District, Hidalgo County, New Mexico and the Boly Field Mine, Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia.[1]

It occurs in low sulfur hydrothermal gold-quartz veins and occurs with native gold, native bismuth, gold tellurides, tetradymite, altaite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite.[3]

gollark: They could be stunned.
gollark: Well, if I get a big enough pile, I can trade random copper-level stuff -> silvers -> golds.
gollark: Well, CB green coppers are more common than golds. If someone can't get a green copper for (roughly) the stuff I have, it'll be quite hard to add enough to get a gold.
gollark: That might be problematic, then.
gollark: Question: I've got a CB copper, cheese and paper; how many more similarly rare things do I need to get a CB gold?

See also

References
  1. Tellurobismuthite on Mindat.org
  2. Tellurobismuthite data on Webmineral
  3. Handbook of Mineralogy
  • D. M Chizhikov and V. P. Shchastlivyi, 1966, Tellurium and Tellurides, Nauka Publishing, Moscow
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