Common mineral of the oxides and hydroxides class.
Cassiterite from China
Origin of name: from Greek κασσίτερος kassiteros meaning tin
Synonyms and trade names: tinstone, tin spar, needle-tin ore
A massive, opaque and colour banded variety is called wood tin
Can be confused with: due to the extremely high specific gravity cassiterite can only be confused with other very dense minerals like cerussite, scheelite, stibiotantalite and zircon
Localities: historically most significant were the deposits in Cornwall. Today cassiterite is mainly mined in Bolivia, Peru, China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Gem grade material mainly comes from Bolivia and China but facettable Cassiterite has also been found in Namibia, Russia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the USA.
Cassiterit baguette 3.89cts, China
Handling: very sensitive to acids and heat, very brittle
Worth knowing: cassiterit always was and still is the most important tin ore. It is the oldest ore used by mankind, mined at least since the beginning of the bronze age about 4500 years ago.