 According to the United States Geological Survey , the world mining production of bismuth in 2014 was 13 @,@ 600 tonnes , with the major contributions from China ( 7 @,@ 600 tonnes ) , Vietnam ( 4 @,@ 950 tonnes ) and Mexico ( 948 tonnes ) . The refinery production in 2010 was 16 @,@ 000 tonnes , of which China produced 13 @,@ 000 , Mexico 850 and Belgium 800 tonnes . The difference reflects bismuth 's status as a byproduct of extraction of other metals such as lead , copper , tin , molybdenum and tungsten . 
