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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cassiterite

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Our new ledge is a jim-dandy; and seem' as I cheated the woman out of her cassiterite, I'm bound to make it good in yellow gold.

From The Trail of a Sourdough Life in Alaska by Sullivan, May Kellogg

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