CASSITERITE: The oxide of
the metal tin = SnO2
CASS-1. CASSITERITE –
OX-CASS
HUGE TWINNED CRYSTAL –
ON MUSCOVITE MICA –
MOUNT XUEBAODING,
PINGWU
WU MINE,
MINE CHINA:
Viewed here is one of the best
twinned (3.5” long) Cassiterite
crystals - highly textured and
perched on a very aesthetic bed of
white Muscovite Mica crystals. It
comes from the world’s best and
most classic,
classic Scheelite and
Cassiterite deposit - isolated on the
side of Mt. Xuebaoding in Sichuan
province, China. The top of this
mountain also houses one of the
largest Panda bear preserves.
It is exceedingly rare that one
deposit produces the best of two
colorful display species:
Cassiterite and Scheelite. This
mountain was the epicenter of
the devastating China
earthquake in 2008 which
covered all roads and collapsed
all bridges in the location
possibly closing this famous
mine for a long time.
-Joe
Joe Budd photograph
OX-CASS-2. CASSITERITE – BI-PYRAMIDAL
PYRAMIDAL CRYSTAL –
SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA: Seen here is a rare, twinned
and bi-pyramidal
pyramidal Cassiterite crystal (pointed at both ends).
This specimen as we might expect is also from Mt. Xuebaoding,
China; measuring 2” by 2.5”. -Joe
Joe Budd photograph
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