Bismuth Statistics and Information

Insights and data

Pictured: silver-bismuth ore

Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and material flow of bismuth.

Close up of Bismuthinite — Bismuth is the heaviest of the heavy metals and is non-toxic. As such, it has served as a replacement for lead and has been used in medications and atomic research.

Overview

Bismuth is mainly a byproduct of lead ore processing. It has a metallic luster and is silver-white with an iridescent tarnish. Among the heavy metals, it is the heaviest and the only non-toxic. Bismuth has been used in solders, a variety of other alloys, metallurgical additives, and medications and in atomic research. In the early 1990s, research began on the evaluation of bismuth as a nontoxic replacement for lead in such uses as ceramic glazes, fishing sinkers, food processing equipment, free-machining brasses for plumbing applications, lubricating greases, and shot for waterfowl hunting. Since 1997, the United States has been completely dependent on imports for its supply of primary bismuth.

Publications

Mineral Industry Surveys

Mineral Commodity Summaries

We are currently in the process of transitioning our datasets to the USGS ScienceBase platform to improve long-term accessibility, documentation, and version control. As part of that transition, we have temporarily paused public posting of our Minerals Yearbook (MYB) tables but will resume publication of them when the process is complete. Users subscribed to the automatic notification will be informed as each MYB becomes available. Thank you for your patience.