Cassiterite Cube Massive Crystal

Description

Mass: 94 grams  -or-  3.30 ounces
Size: 1.5 inch x 1.25 inch x 1 inch
Dense and heavy for its size, this Cassiterite crystal displays a dark, adamantine color. Square, cubic crystal with subtle striations in opposite directions on perpendicular faces revealed in bright light.
Chemical composition: SnO
2
Primary source of Tin
Prospected from historic lithium mine in the Battleground Formation, NC (Late Proterozoic), an area known for metavolcanic, garnet,
and staurolite that occur locally.
Tetragonal crystal cube developed a rectangular prism with a square base.
The mineral name is derived from the term "Cassiterides" which was applied to 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.
The primary ore of Tin, this mineral is found in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. The crystal form is rare.