Cassiterite is composed of tin oxide which is the principal ore for tin. The truth is, it really is also called 'the tin stone'. Along with its vital industrial use, it's some intriguing properties which make substantial-good quality crystals beneficial gemstones. Cassiterite specimens are also very fashionable with mineral collectors.
Cassiterite is fairly hard, by using a rating over the Mohs scale of 6 to seven. It tends to be opaque nevertheless skinny crystals can be translucent. Its Main virtue is its multiple crystal faces and fantastic luster. Numerous specimens are graded as acquiring an "adamantine" (diamond-like) or submetallic luster.
With a particular gravity of six.7 to seven.one, cassiterite is probably the densest gem materials acknowledged. By the use of comparison, the extremely dense hematite has a certain gravity ΣΤΑΥΡΟΙ ΒΑΦΤΙΣΗΣ ΜΕ ΔΙΑΜΑÎΤΙ of around five.28, though the specific gravity of sapphire is about four.03 Which of diamond is 3.fifty three. Cassiterite also has a very substantial refractive index of one.997 to 2.098, bigger than zircon, ΓΥÎΑΙΚΕΙΟΙ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΙ ΜΕ ΜΠΡΙΓΙΑΠsphene and demantoid garnet (even though not rather as high as diamond).
The colors of cassiterite range between purple, wine, black and reddish-brown to yellowish-brown. The dark brown and blackish hues are one of ΣΤΑΥΡΟΙ ΜΕ ΔΙΑΜΑÎΤΙΑ the most usual.
Cassiterite is found in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites linked to granite intrusions. As a consequence of its durability, Additionally it is routinely identified concentrated in alluvial placer deposits, from time to time in large sufficient quantities being commercially exploitable (as in Malaysia, for example).
Deposits of cassiterite are found in Australia, Bolivia, China, Congo, ΣταυÏοί με Διαμάντια the Czech Republic, England (Cornwall), Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Spain as well as the United states (California). The best cassiterite crystals have ordinarily originate from the Bolivian deposit ΣΤΑΥΡΟΙ with its hydrothermal veins. Some recent facet-grade content from China rivals the Bolivian cassiterite and shows unconventional golden hues.
