Inorganic Gemstones

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Cassiterite

Cassiterite rough.

Cassiterite is the principal ore of tin. It is usually recovered from mines as black opaque grains, which are of little use in jewellery. Crystals are generally short, stubby prisms. Occasionally, rare, transparent, reddish brown crystals with adamantine lustre are found and faceted for collectors. They could be confused with diamond, brown zircon, and sphene, but for the higher specific gravity and distinct dichroism.

Cassiterite occurs in pegmatites and can be washed into alluvial deposits. Localities include the Malay Peninsula, England, Germany, Australia, Bolivia, Mexico and Namibia.

The name “cassiterite” comes from the Greek word, kassiteros, meaning tin.


Properties
Chemical Composition: 

Tin oxide

Crystal System / Forms: 

Tetragonal

Hardness: 
6.5
Specific Gravity: 

6.95

Lustre: 
Adamantine
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

2.00-2.10 / 0.100

Magnification: 
  • In transparent cut stones, black mineral inclusions can be seen.
Sources: 

Malay Peninsula, England, Germany, Australia, Bolivia, Mexico and Namibia.

Cuts & Uses: 

Brilliant, Mixed.

Did you know?

Jewellery is one of the most bought products online. An estimated $1 billion USD of diamonds are bought annually via the Internet. Over 40 million people use the Internet to trade!

In Germany, the garland of ambers is hung around the necks of the infants, so that their teeth might come out without much trouble.

In Turkey, people fix a piece of amber in the hubble-bubble, dogged by an age old belief that the presence of the jewel would destroy all the germs and no disease would spread, even after many have dragged their puffs from it.

In Greece, people think if wine is poured into the cups made of amethyst, one does not get drunk after drinking that.

In Rome, a talisman having coral pieces is considered very auspicious to quell the bad spells of evil look. The Romans were in the habit of hanging chains made of ancient coral pieces from the cradle of the infants to protect them from evil effects.

In China, people wear rings studded with tiny conch or oyster shells as they believe it cures all aches such as stomach ache, worms and like.

In India, pendants made of silver and studded with pearls are hung from the necks of the children to save them from any bad effects.

Greeks still believe, if women wear blue sapphires then no sense of immorality would pollute their mind nor can any fear of the supernatural can trouble them.

The Pope Innocent III had circulated an order asking all the priests wear blue sapphire, so that morality can be strengthened.

It is said about turquoise, that when the stone changes its color into yellow, it actually signals bad times to the person who wears it.

It is believed that a turquoise gifted to a friend or a lover turns his or her life into one of happiness and good luck.

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