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)
tetragonalcommonOxides
Cassiterite
SnO2
The image shows several dark brown to black, lustrous, prismatic cassiterite crystals, some with well-defined faces, clustered together.
Cassiterite Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
6.5Crystal System
tetragonalLuster
adamantineStreak Color
white to brownishCleavage
poor on {110} and {100}Fracture
conchoidalSpecific Gravity
7Colors
brown, black, reddish-brown, yellow, gray, whiteTransparency
opaqueType Locality
Inverell, Gough County, New South Wales, AustraliaMineral Group
OxidesUses
primary ore of tin, collector's specimens, gemstone (rarely)Associated Minerals
quartz, tourmaline, topaz, fluorite, wolframite, arsenopyrite, micaRarity
commonGeological Context
Cassiterite is typically found in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusions, as well as in placer deposits due to its high specific gravity and resistance to weathering.
