Cassiterite

Item Description

Bolivia has probably produced more tin than any other country in the world. The great tin mines at Viloco (sometimes called Araca) have produced some of the most magnificent Cassiterite specimens extant. This particular specimen hosts dozens of superb quality, sharp, HIGHLY lustrous, black cyclic twinned crystals. The piece is in great shape, and virtually all of the crystals are completely damage free. It is a very nice display piece of this material, and actually very unusual compared to most as it is a brilliant crystallized "mound"! The largest twin which is aesthetically flaring out of the top of the specimen measures 1.4 cm long. These classic specimens from Viloco are simply not seen for sale in today's market, and people do not realize how few of them are found in fine quality specimens. Well over 90% of the Cassiterites from Viloco are barely reference quality, and are usually so badly damaged that they are worth nothing more than their weight in tin ore.