Cassiterite

Formula:  SnO2

Origin of name:  From Greek for tin

 

Crystal system:  Tetragonal

Crystal class:  4/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:  Very common on {011}, contact, penetration, geniculated, or lamellar

Unit cell: a = 4.738 Ǻ, c = 3.188 Ǻ

 

Colour:  Brown to brownish black, black, colourless, gray, yellowish

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Adamantine, vitreous

Habit:  Crystals short prismatic, sometimes slender prismatic or pyramidal; granular, botryoidal of reniform masses

Hardness:  6 to 7

Specific gravity:  6.99

Cleavage:  4; {100} imperfect, {110} indistinct, {111} and {011} parting

Tenacity:  Subconchoidal to uneven; brittle

Streak:  White, grayish, brown

 

Synonyms/varieties:  Ainalite (Ta-rich variety), wood tin (colloform variety), stannite, varlamoffite (Fe3+ -rich variety)

 

Comments:

 

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