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Cassiterite

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Ximeng Co., Pu'er Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
© 2002 John H. Betts

Show Cassiterite Photos (678)
Formula:
SnO
 
2
System:TetragonalColour:Black, yellow, brown, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy, Sub-MetallicHardness:6 - 7
Name:The mineral name is derived from the term “Cassiterides” which was applied 'islands off the western coast of Europe' in pre-Roman times (the exact location of these 'islands' has been hotly debated over the years, current thought is that the source was probably mainland Spain and that even 2000 years ago, traders had a habit of providing misleading locality information to protect their sources).
Isostructural with:Rutile


The primary ore of Tin, this mineral is found in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites associated with granite intrusions. Because of its durability it is also frequently found concentrated in alluvial placer deposits, sometimes in large enough quantities to be commercially exploitable, as in Malaysia, for example.

Classification of Cassiterite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.02-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DB.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:4.4.1.5

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.11.2

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
11 : Oxides of Sn and Pb
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Occurrences of Cassiterite

Geological Setting:In medium- to high-temperature hydrothermal veins and greisens, alluvial placers.

Physical Properties of Cassiterite

Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy, Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Black, yellow, brown, red or white.
Streak:Brownish white, white, greyish
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 7
Hardness (Vickers):VHN200=1239 - 1467 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
{100} imperfect, {110} indistinct.
Parting:More or less distinct on {111} or {011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):6.98 - 7.01 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.993 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cassiterite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P42/mnm (P42/m 21/n 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.7382(4) Å, c = 3.1871(1) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.673
Unit Cell Volume:V 71.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Untwinned crystals usually sort prismatic [001] with {110} and {100} prominent. Long prismatic at times, or with acute terminations. Less commonly pyramidal. Faces {001} and {110} frequently uneven; faces in zone [10_1] and in zone [001] often striated parallel to their intersections. Fibrous, botryoidal crusts or concretionary masses. Granular, coarse to fine.
Twinning:1. On {011}, very common. Both contact and penetration twins; often repeated producing complex forms. Stellate fivelings at times. 2. Reported on {{031}.
Crystal Atlas:
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Cassiterite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cassiterite no.19 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cassiterite no.175 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cassiterite no.177 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cassiterite no.178 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cassiterite no.207 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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Epitaxial Relationships of Cassiterite

Epitaxial Minerals:
QuartzNordenskiöldine
Epitaxi Comments:Oriented overgrowths of cassiterite on nordenskioldine; oriented growths of quartz on cassiterite.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Cassiterite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.990 - 2.010 nε = 2.093 - 2.100
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.103

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:Light gray
Internal Reflections:white to brownish
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Pleochroic haloes have been observed. Dichroic in yellow, green, red, brown, usually weak, or absent, but strong at times.
Comments:Anomalously biaxial.

Chemical Properties of Cassiterite

Formula:
SnO
 
2
Essential elements:O, Sn
All elements listed in formula:O, Sn
Common Impurities:Fe,Ta,Nb,Zn,W,Mn,Sc,Ge,In,Sc,Ga

Relationship of Cassiterite to other Species

Related to:
  • Rutile Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    4.DB.05Argutite
    GeO
     
    2
    4.DB.05Plattnerite
    PbO
     
    2
    4.DB.05Pyrolusite
    MnO
     
    2
    4.DB.05Rutile
    TiO
     
    2
    4.DB.05Tripuhyite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		Sb
    5+
     
    		O
     
    4
    4.DB.05Tugarinovite
    MoO
     
    2
    4.DB.05Varlamoffite
    (Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
     
    2
    4.DB.10Byströmite
    MgSb
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Fe)
    (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Mn)
    (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.10Ordoñezite
    ZnSb
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.15bAkhtenskite
    ε-Mn
    4+
     
    		O
     
    2
    4.DB.15cNsutite
    (Mn
    4+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(O,OH)
     
    2
    4.DB.15aParamontroseite
    VO
     
    2
    4.DB.15aRamsdellite
    Mn
    4+
     
    		O
     
    2
    4.DB.20Scrutinyite
    alpha-PbO
     
    2
    4.DB.25Ishikawaite
    U
    4+
     
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Nb
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Ixiolite
    (Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
     
    4
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Samarskite-(Y)
    (Y,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,U,Th,Ca)
     
    2
    		(Nb,Ta)
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Srilankite
    Ti
     
    2
    		ZrO
     
    6
    4.DB.25Yttrocolumbite-(Y)
    Y(U
    4+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)Nb
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Calciosamarskite
    (Ca,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Y)
     
    2
    		(Nb,Ta,Ti)
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Samarskite-(Yb)
    (Yb,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		(Nb,Ta)
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.25Písekite-(Y)
    4.DB.30Ferberite
    FeWO
     
    4
    4.DB.30Hübnerite
    MnWO
     
    4
    4.DB.30Sanmartinite
    (Zn,Fe)WO
     
    4
    4.DB.30Krasnoselskite
    CoWO
     
    4
    4.DB.30Heftetjernite
    ScTaO
     
    4
    4.DB.35Columbite-(Fe)
    FeNb
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.35Tantalite-(Fe)
    FeTa
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.35Columbite-(Mn)
    (Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mn)
    MnTa
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.35Columbite-(Mg)
    (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.35Qitianlingite
    (Fe,Mn)
     
    2
    		(Nb,Ta)
     
    2
    		WO
     
    10
    4.DB.35Magnocolumbite
    4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mg)
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    4.DB.40Ferrowodginite
    FeSnTa
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Lithiotantite
    Li(Ta,Nb)
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Lithiowodginite
    LiTa
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Titanowodginite
    MnTiTa
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Wodginite
    Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Ferrotitanowodginite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		TiTa
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.40Wolframowodginite
    Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    4.DB.45Tivanite
    VTiO
     
    3
    		(OH)
    4.DB.50Carmichaelite
    (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O
     
    2-x
    		(OH)
     
    x
    		]
    4.DB.55Alumotantite
    AlTaO
     
    4
    4.DB.60Biehlite
    ((Sb,As)O)
     
    2
    		[MoO
     
    4
    		]
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    7.11.1Romarchite
    SnO
    7.11.4Schoenfliesite
    Mg[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.5Burtite
    Ca[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.6Vismirnovite
    Zn[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.7Wickmanite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.8Tetrawickmanite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		[Sn
    4+
     
    		(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.9Jeanbandyite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)[Sn
    4+
     
    		(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.10Natanite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.11Mushistonite
    (Cu,Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)[Sn(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.12Ferronigerite-2N1S
    Sn(Fe,Mg)Al
     
    6
    		O
     
    11
    		(OH)
    7.11.13Magnesionigerite
    7.11.14Argutite
    GeO
     
    2
    7.11.15Brunogeierite
    (Ge,Fe)Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    7.11.16Stottite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		[Ge
    4+
     
    		(OH)
     
    6
    		]
    7.11.17Carboirite
    FeAl
     
    2
    		GeO
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    2
    7.11.18Otjisumeite
    PbGe
     
    4
    		O
     
    9
    7.11.19Bartelkeite
    PbFe
    2+
     
    		Ge
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    7.11.20Massicot
    PbO
    7.11.21Litharge
    PbO
    7.11.22Minium
    Pb
     
    3
    		O
     
    4
    7.11.23Plattnerite
    PbO
     
    2
    7.11.24Scrutinyite
    alpha-PbO
     
    2
    7.11.25Murdochite
    PbCu
     
    6
    		O
     
    8-x
    		(Cl,Br)
     
    2x
    		 x<=0.5
    7.11.26Macedonite
    PbTiO
     
    3
    7.11.27Cesàrolite
    PbH
     
    2
    		Mn
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    7.11.28Coronadite
    Pb(Mn,Mn)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
    7.11.29Quenselite
    PbMnO
     
    2
    		(OH)
    7.11.30Plumboferrite
    PbFe
     
    4
    		O
     
    7
    7.11.31Magnetoplumbite
    (Pb,Mn)(Fe,Mn)
     
    12
    		O
     
    19
    7.11.32Senaite
    Pb(Ti,Fe,Mn)
     
    21
    		O
     
    38

    Other Names for Cassiterite

    Synonyms:
    NadelzinnerzNeedle-tin oreSparable tinStannum calciformeTin Spar
    Tinstone
    Other Languages:
    Asturian:Casiterita
    Basque:Kasiterita
    Catalan:Cassiterita
    Czech:Kasiterit
    Dutch:Cassiteriet
    Finnish:Kassiteriitti
    French:Cassitérite
    Etain oxydé
    German:Kassiterit
    Cassiterit
    Sperlingsschnabel
    Visiererz
    Visiergraupen
    Zinngranate
    Zinngraupen
    Zinnspat
    Zinnstein
    Zwitter
    Hebrew:קסיטריט
    Hungarian:Kassziterit
    Italian:Cassiterite
    Stagno ossidato
    Japanese:錫石
    Korean:석석
    Lithuanian:Kasiteritas
    Malay:Kasiterit
    Polish:Kasyteryt
    Portuguese:Cassiterita
    Russian:Касситерит
    Spanish:Casiterita
    Cassiterita
    Swedish:Tennmalm
    Zinnsten
    Ukrainian:Каситерит
    Varieties:
    AinaliteToad's Eye TinWood Tin

    Other Information

    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Cassiterite

    Reference List:Klaproth, M.H. (1797): Untersuchung der Zinnsteine, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Zweiter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 245-256

    Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 574-581.

    Cecchini A., Franzini M., Troysi M.(1990): La microdurezza della cassiterite. Atti Soc. Tosc. Sc. Nat., Mem., Serie A, 97, 85-92.

    Maldener, J., Rauch, F., Gavranic, M., and Beran, A. (2001) OH absorption coefficients of rutile and cassiterite deduced from nuclear reaction analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Mineralogy and Petrology: 71: 21-29.

    Internet Links for Cassiterite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Cassiterite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cassiterite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cassiterite

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