Tin oxide and the primary ore of tin. Forms distinctive tetragonal prismatic crystals, often twinned. Color: Brown, black, reddish-brown, yellowish. Luster: Adamantine to submetallic. Streak: White to brownish. Cleavage: Poor. Hardness: 6-7. Transparency: Transparent to opaque. Crystal system: Tetragonal. Chemical formula: SnO₂. Specific gravity: 6.8-7.1. Formation: Forms in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and granitic pegmatites associated with tin-bearing granites. Common geological settings: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bolivia, Cornwall; found in greisen and alluvial deposits. Common look-alikes and related entries: Rutile, Columbite, Wolframite.
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:36:56.795648+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Tin oxide and the primary ore of tin. Forms distinctive tetragonal prismatic crystals, often twinned.
How can you identify Cassiterite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Brown, black, reddish-brown, yellowish; lustre: Adamantine to submetallic; streak: White to brownish; Mohs hardness: 6-7; cleavage: Poor; crystal system: Tetragonal; transparency: Transparent to opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Cassiterite form?
Forms in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and granitic pegmatites associated with tin-bearing granites.
Where is Cassiterite commonly found?
China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bolivia, Cornwall; found in greisen and alluvial deposits.
What is Cassiterite commonly confused with?
Cassiterite may be confused with Rutile, Columbite, Wolframite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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