cassiterite
twinned crystal of cassiterite from Krupka, Czech Republic
cassiterite from China
oval cut cassiterite from Colombia
gas – liquid like inclusions
Detailed sheet
cassiterite
Its name comes from the Greek “kassiterôs”, tin, or the name of the islands “Cassiterides” that produced this tin ore in antiquity, very likely islands very close to present-day Spain that would have given their name to this tin mineral, cassiterite.
It is the principal ore of tin, it has long been exploited in alluvial sources, such as gold has been, because it is very dense and concentrated into small pieces in the river beds. Indeed it is part of “grains” that focus at the center of the gold diggers pan.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SnO2
tin oxide mineral
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
brown
Other colors
yellow
all shades of honey yellow to dark brown, sometimes colorless
Color of streak
white, yellow
Luster
adamantine, greasy
Hardness
6.0 to 7.0
Density
6.70 to 7.10
Cleavage
indistinct
Fracture
conchoidal
imperfect, difficult cleavage
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
opaque, transparent
Refractive index
1.990 - 2.100
Double refraction
0.095
very strong uniaxial ( + )
visible double refraction
Yes
Dispersion
0,070(0.035)
Pleochroism
variable
Number of colors
3
it cannot be seen but also very strong : yellow green to brown, reddish brown
Fluorescence
none
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
very short tetragonal prisms, very caractérisques twins.
crystals system
tetragonal
OTHER INFORMATIONS
Astrological sign
Aquarius, Aries, Pisces
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
This is a very common mineral that is found especially in Bolivia (Araca), England (Cornwall), China, Czech Republic (Horni Slavkov-), North Vietnam (Pia OUAC), Australia (new South Wales), Spain, USA, Malaysia, Portugal (Panasqueira), Mexico, Namibia … and also in France, La Villeder (Morbihan).
use in jewelry
Very nice shine, shining brown color, it is faceted for collection.
Historical
healing properties
If we consider only the individual crystals, it would used at the Base chakra and its black variety would be a link with Mother Earth of whom it would absorb and restore the heat from the magma.
Other
Gems
Venez visitez
notre site web
voillot-joaillier.fr
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