Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
tetragonaluncommonOxides
Cassiterite
SnO2
This specimen features dark brown to black, well-formed, prismatic to bipyramidal crystals, often exhibiting twinning, with a distinct adamantine luster.
Cassiterite Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
6Crystal System
tetragonalLuster
adamantineStreak Color
white to brownishCleavage
imperfect on {110} and {100}Fracture
unevenSpecific Gravity
6.98Colors
brown, black, reddish-brown, yellow, gray, colorlessTransparency
opaqueType Locality
Erongo Mountain, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, NamibiaMineral Group
OxidesUses
tin ore, collector's itemAssociated Minerals
quartz, tourmaline, topaz, fluorite, wolframite, arsenopyriteRarity
uncommonGeological Context
Cassiterite is primarily found in high-temperature hydrothermal veins associated with granitic intrusions, in granite pegmatites, and as a resistant heavy mineral in placer deposits. It is the most important ore mineral of tin.
