cassiterite

American  

[kuh-sit-uh-rahyt] / kəˈsɪt əˌraɪt /

noun

1. a brown or black mineral, tin dioxide, SnO 2 , that crystallizes in the tetragonal system; tinstone: the principal ore of tin.

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cassiterite British  

/ kəˈsɪtəˌraɪt /

noun

1. Also called: tinstone. a black or brown mineral, found in igneous rocks and hydrothermal veins. It is a source of tin. Composition: tin oxide. Formula: SnO 2 . Crystal structure: tetragonal

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Etymology

Origin of cassiterite

1855–60; < Greek kassíter ( os ) tin + -ite ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cassiterite

On the recent trip into the forest, they found a recently abandoned gold mine and the active mine harvesting cassiterite, the main ore to make tin.

From New York Times ● Mar. 25, 2023

The principle tin ore is the oxide cassiterite, SnO2, and the principle lead and thallium ores are the sulfides or the products of weathering of the sulfides.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Eastern Congo is blessed with gold, coltan, cassiterite and other minerals.

From New York Times ● Dec. 17, 2012

The Congolese government has banned mining in the region, which is rich in the coltan used in many mobile phones, the tin ore cassiterite, as well as gold.

From Reuters ● Sep. 24, 2010

The origin of cassiterite veins, in view of their universal association with granitic rocks, is evidently related to igneous intrusions.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by C. K. (Charles Kenneth) Leith

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