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Formula: Bi2O2(CO3)
Anhydrous carbonate of bismuth
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 6.7 to 7.4 measured, 8.15 calculated
Hardness: 2½ to 3½
Streak: Grey
Colour: Yellow to brown, greenish, green-grey, grey or black;
colourless or tinted in shades of faint yellow, green, etc. in transmitted light.
Solubility: Soluble in acids with effervescence
Common impurities: Fe,Cu
Environments:
Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments
Bismutite is a relatively common secondary
bismuth carbonate, and an alteration product of
bismuthinite and native bismuth
(Webmin, Mindat).
Associated minerals include bismuth,
bismuthinite,
tetradymite,
beyerite, bismite,
cerussite,
limonite, malachite,
mixite, pucherite and
sillénite
(Mindat HOM).
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