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Sphaerobismoite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sphaerobismoite
Formula:
Bi2O3
Colour:
Green, pale yellow, gray
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
7.17 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
For the form of the aggregates and the composition.
Co-Type Localities:
Dimorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7308
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7308:6
IMA Classification of Sphaerobismoite
Classification of Sphaerobismoite
4.CB.65
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4.3.13.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sbm | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Sphaerobismoite
Sub-Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Green, pale yellow, gray
Comment:
Semitransparent
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
7.17 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sphaerobismoite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 2.13 nε = 2.18
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Sphaerobismoite
Mindat Formula:
Bi2O3
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
As
Crystallography of Sphaerobismoite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.02(2) Å, c = 6.46(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.805
Unit Cell V:
415.51 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space group P42/n or P42212. Synthetic material is reported to have space group P-421c (Blower & Greaves, 1988).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010069 | Sphaerobismoite | Blower S K, Greaves C (1988) The structure of beta-Bi2O3 from powder neutron diffraction data Acta Crystallographica C44 587-589 |  | 1988 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0015772 | Sphaerobismoite | Gattow G, Schutze D (1964) Uber Wismutoxide. VI. Uber ein Wismut(III)-oxid mit hoherem sauerstoffgehalt (beta-modifikation) Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 328 44-68 | 1964 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015771 | Sphaerobismoite | Gattow G, Schutze D (1964) Uber Wismutoxide. VI. Uber ein Wismut(III)-oxid mit hoherem sauerstoffgehalt (beta-modifikation) Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 328 44-68 | 1964 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.16 Å | (100) |
| 5.73 Å | (70) |
| 1.902 Å | (60) |
| 3.44 Å | (50) |
| 2.02 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Brunngraben district, Cu deposit, Flatschach, Spielberg, Murtal District, Styria, Austria