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Cassiterite

Cassiterite
  • Translations : Cassiterite, Casiterita, Kasiterit, Cassiteriet, Kassiterit, Cassiterit, Kassziterit, キャシテライト, 錫石, 석석, Касситерит, Tennmalm, קסיטריט
  • Synonym : Nadelzinnerz, Tinstone, Stannum calciforme
  • Etymology : From the Greek "kassiteros" = tin.
  • Comment : Cassiterite has long been used in industry as tin ore.

Cassiterite has long been used in industry as tin ore. It is a very heavy ore which the miners often find at the bottom of their sieve in the alluvial deposits.

Cassiterite in gem quality, transparent with a beutiful color is extremely rare, especially beyond 5ct.

To learn more about the mineralogy of the cassiterite, see Mindat.org

See the cassiterite for sale.

Gemological data

  • Chemical formula : Sn O2
  • Hardness (Mohs) : 6 - 7
  • Density : 6.98 - 7.01
  • Refractive index : nω = 1.990 - 2.010 nε = 2.093 - 2.100
  • Birefingence : 0.096 - 0.098
  • Crystal system : Quadratic (tetragonal)
  • Group : Rutile

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