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

Example Sentences

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

Regardless of the method, searching for gold and other minerals like cassiterite and niobium is dirty, dangerous and often illegal.

From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2017

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

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2012

By the disintegration of tin-bearing rocks and vein-stones, the cassiterite passes into the beds of streams as rolled fragments and grains, or even sand, and is then known as stream tin or alluvial tin.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various