Tsumoite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Tsumoite
Formula:
BiTe
Colour:
Silver-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
8.16
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Tsumo Mine, Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4041
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4041:5
IMA Classification of Tsumoite
Approved
Approval year:
1972
First published:
1978
Classification of Tsumoite
2.DC.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
C : Variable M:S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
C : Variable M:S
2.8.20.1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.7.26
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Tsm | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Tsm | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Tsumoite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver-white
Streak:
Steel-gray
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=68 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
basal
basal
Density:
8.16(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 8.23 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tsumoite
Anisotropism:
Moderate
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 61.0% | 62.2% |
| 420nm | 61.1% | 62.3% |
| 440nm | 61.2% | 62.4% |
| 460nm | 61.3% | 62.7% |
| 480nm | 61.4% | 63.1% |
| 500nm | 61.5% | 63.4% |
| 520nm | 61.6% | 63.8% |
| 540nm | 61.7% | 64.2% |
| 560nm | 61.9% | 64.6% |
| 580nm | 62.2% | 65.0% |
| 600nm | 62.5% | 65.4% |
| 620nm | 62.7% | 65.7% |
| 640nm | 63.0% | 65.9% |
| 660nm | 63.1% | 66.0% |
| 680nm | 63.2% | 66.1% |
| 700nm | 63.3% | 66.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White with a faintly creamy tint
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Very weak
Chemistry of Tsumoite
Mindat Formula:
BiTe
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pb
Crystallography of Tsumoite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3 1m
Setting:
P3 1m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.42 Å, c = 24.05 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 5.441
Unit Cell V:
406.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000691 | Tsumoite | Shimazaki H, Ozawa T (1978) Tsumoite, BiTe, a new mineral from Tsumo mine, Japan American Mineralogist 63 1162-1165 |  | 1978 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009660 | Tsumoite | Yamana K, Kihara K, Matsumoto T (1979) Bismuth tellurides: BiTe and Bi4Te3 Acta Crystallographica B35 147-149 |  | 1979 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.23 Å | (vs) |
| 2.36 Å | (s) |
| 2.21 Å | (s) |
| 1.825 Å | (s) |
| 1.487 Å | (s) |
| 2.01 Å | (m) |
| 1.617 Å | (m) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Tsumoite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregular aggregates up to one cm across in a clinopyroxene-garnet-quartz skarn
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University Museum, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Skarn
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Tsumoite
Other Language Names for Tsumoite
Relationship of Tsumoite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Tetradymite Group:
| Baksanite | Bi6Te2S3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
| Ehrigite | Bi8Te3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Hedleyite | Bi7Te3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Ikunolite | Bi4S3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Ingodite | Bi2TeS | Trig. |
| Joséite-A | Bi4TeS2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Joséite-B | Bi4Te2S | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Kawazulite | Bi2Te2Se | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Laitakarite | Bi4(Se,S)3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Paraguanajuatite | Bi2Se3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Pilsenite | Bi4Te3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Skippenite | Bi2TeSe2 | Trig. |
| Sulphotsumoite | Bi3Te2S | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
| Tellurantimony | Sb2Te3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Telluronevskite | Bi3TeSe2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
| Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Vihorlatite | Bi24Se17Te4 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
| Zipserite | Bi5S4 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Tsumoite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 21 photos of Tsumoite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 3 photos of Tsumoite associated with Yecoraite | Fe3+3Bi5(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)O9 · 9H2O |
| 2 photos of Tsumoite associated with Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Smirnite | Bi2Te4+O5 |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Almandine-Spessartine Series | |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| 1 photo of Tsumoite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.DC.05 | Laitakarite | Bi4(Se,S)3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Paraguanajuatite | Bi2Se3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Telluronevskite | Bi3TeSe2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Hedleyite | Bi7Te3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Hitachiite | Pb5Bi2Te2S6 |
| 2.DC.05 | Tellurantimony | Sb2Te3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Joséite | Bi4TeS2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Joséite-A | Bi4TeS2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Joséite-B | Bi4Te2S |
| 2.DC.05 | Nevskite | Bi(Se,S) |
| 2.DC.05 | Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S |
| 2.DC.05 | Protojoséite | Bi3(Te,S)2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Skippenite | Bi2TeSe2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Kawazulite | Bi2Te2Se |
| 2.DC.05 | UM1983-09-S:BiPbTe | PbBi3S2Te |
| 2.DC.05 | Pilsenite | Bi4Te3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Sztrókayite | Bi3TeS2 |
| 2.DC.05 | Baksanite | Bi6Te2S3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Joséite-C | Bi16Te3S9 |
| 2.DC.05 | Vihorlatite | Bi24Se17Te4 |
| 2.DC.05 | Ikunolite | Bi4S3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Ehrigite | Bi8Te3 |
| 2.DC.05 | Ingodite | Bi2TeS |
| 2.DC.05 | Sulphotsumoite | Bi3Te2S |
| 2.DC.15 | Castaingite | CuMo2S5 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Tsumoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4041.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Tsumoite
Reference List:
Misra, S., Bever, M.B. (1964) On the solid solutions of bismuth telluride and bismuth selenide. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 25. 1233-1241 doi:10.1016/0022-3697(64)90021-6
Greenaway, D.L., Harbeke, G. (1965) Band structure of bismuth telluride, bismuth selenide and their respective alloys. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 26. 1585-1604 doi:10.1016/0022-3697(65)90092-2
Shimazaki, Hidehiko, Ozawa, Tohru (1978) Tsumoite, BiTe, a new mineral from the Tsumo mine, Japan. American Mineralogist, 63 (11-12) 1162-1165
Nysten, Per (1990) Tsumoite from the Björkdal gold deposit, Västerbotten County, northern Sweden. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 112 (1) 59-60 doi:10.1080/11035899009453161
Bayliss, Peter (1991) Crystal chemistry and crystallography of some minerals in the tetradymite group. American Mineralogist, 76 (1-2) 257-265
Dobbe, Rene (1993) Bismuth tellurides (joseite-B, bismuthian tsumoite) in a Pb-Zn deposit from Tunaberg, Sweden. European Journal of Mineralogy, 5 (1) 165-170 doi:10.1127/ejm/5/1/0165
Mishra, S K, Satpathy, S, Jepsen, O (1997) Electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride and bismuth selenide. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 9 (2). 461-470 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/9/2/014
Cook, N. J., Ciobanu, C. L., Wagner, T., Stanley, C. J. (2007) Minerals of the system Bi–Te–Se–S related to the tetradymite archetype: review of classification and compositional variation. The Canadian Mineralogist, 45 (4) 665-708 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.45.4.665
Localities for Tsumoite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Zwahlen et al. (2014) |
Armenia | |
| Bowell et al. (2021) |
Australia | |
| Carolyn Timms |
| |
| [MinRec 39:476] +1 other reference |
| - (2016) +3 other references |
| Meinert +1 other reference |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Paar et al. (2019) | |
| Pichler (2009) | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2021) |
| Arthofer et al. (2025) |
| Leikauf et al. (2018) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2020) |
Belgium | |
| Hatert et al. (2014) |
Bulgaria | |
| Cook et al. (2002) +2 other references |
Canada | |
| Roberts (2017) |
| Brueckner et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Sparkes et al. (2016) |
| Wehrle et al. (2023) |
| Wehrle et al. (2023) | |
| Wehrle et al. (2023) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Warren (2013) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| MacMillan (2014) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Dare et al. (2014) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Ames et al. (2003) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Herzog et al. (2025) |
| Herzog et al. (2025) | |
| Kasprowicz (2023) |
| Alexander (2021) |
China | |
| Furong Huang (1998) +1 other reference |
| Zhang et al. (2024) |
| Zhang et al. (2024) | |
| Meng et al. (2022) |
| Vikent'ev et al. (2015, June) |
| Yuan et al. (2025) |
| Ma et al. (2024) |
| Yuchuan Chen et al. (1994) +2 other references |
| Xu et al. (2024) |
| Xiangcheng Bao (1994) |
| Zhou et al. (2018) |
| Zhou et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
Cuba | |
| López K Jesús M. et al. (2006) |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (2012) |
| Litochleb et al. (2011) | |
| Jiri Sejkora (2009) | |
| C.Auer (2014) |
| Sejkora et al. (2022) | |
| Fojt |
| Vavřín |
| Scharmová (1998) |
| Sandmann et al. (2015) |
| Pauliš +1 other reference |
Dominican Republic | |
| Torró et al. (2018) |
Egypt | |
| Helmy (2005) |
Ethiopia | |
| Cook et al. (2000) |
Finland | |
| Geological Survey of Finland (2017) |
| Eilu (2003) | |
| Mutanen (1997) |
| Fröhlich et al. (2021) |
| Hytönen (1999) |
| www.gsf.fi (2001) | |
| Kojonen | |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2008. Pampalo (Ward) +1 other reference | |
| www.gsf.fi (2001) +1 other reference |
Georgia | |
| Kekelia et al. (2017) |
Germany | |
| Joachim Gröbner (2019) |
| Sandmann et al. (2015) |
| Sandmann et al. (2015) |
| Sandmann et al. (2015) | |
| Sandmann et al. (2015) | |
Greece | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Voudouris et al. (2010, April) |
| P. Voudouris et al. (2022) |
India | |
| Safonov (1984) |
| Datta et al. (2021, December) |
| Dora et al. (2014) |
Indonesia | |
| Dana et al. (2022) |
Japan | |
| Arribas et al. (2018) |
| Harada et al. (2012) |
| Satoshi Matsubara et al. (2010) | |
| Shimazaki et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
| IZUMINO et al. (2014) |
| Nagashima et al. (2021) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Spiridonov (2014) |
Mexico | |
| Lapis 2001 (1) |
| Canet et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Ilmen et al. (2015) |
Norway | |
| Cook (1996) |
| Analyzed at Natural History Museum (T-50.196-200) |
| Larsen et al. (2015) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Noku et al. (2012) |
| Noku et al. (2002) |
Portugal | |
| Cepedal et al. (2013) |
Romania | |
| Cook et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
| Dincă et al. (2025) |
Russia | |
| Chernyshov et al. (2009, November) |
| Izvekova et al. (2021) |
| Vikent’eva +6 other references |
| Kulikov et al. (1989) +1 other reference |
| Novakov et al. (2021) |
| Буханова (2018) |
| Zav´yalov et al. (1982) +2 other references |
| Ivanyuk et al. (2018) |
| Kalinin (2021) |
| Kalinin (2021) | |
| Bazai et al. (2009) |
| Bazai et al. (2009) | |
| Chernyavsky et al. (2012) +1 other reference | |
| Grebennikova et al. (2023) |
| Kazachenko et al. (2013) |
| Kuleshevich et al. (2008) |
| Safonov et al. (2003) |
| Лавров (2021) |
| V. I. Ivashchenko et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Gamyanin +6 other references |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2020) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
| Redin et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Lyubimtseva et al. (2018) |
| Krivitskaya et al. (2008, June) | |
| Bryzgalov et al. (2007, November) | |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra (1986) |
| Koděra (1986) |
| Ferenc Š. et al. (in Slovak) | |
| Melnikov et al. (2009) |
| Melnikov et al. (2009) | |
Sweden | |
| Pieslinger (2023) |
| NJMAh 165 |
| Dobbe (1993) | |
| Bonev et al. (2005) |
| |
| Grensman (1989) +2 other references |
| T. Wikström | |
Tajikistan | |
| Yatimov et al. (2022) |
Tanzania | |
| Maier et al. (2010) |
USA | |
| Rombach et al. (2002, October) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| Mankins (2022) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Staargaard (2009) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Koneev et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Koneev et al. (2005) | |
| Rustam Koneev et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Il'ina +6 other references |
Vietnam | |
| Glotov et al. (2001) |
Zimbabwe | |
| Oberthür et al. (2003) |
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