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 consists of fine, sharp, lustrous, black cyclic twinned crystals, forming a nice large thumbnail / toenail sized specimen. This is a very attractive piece and a great one from the standpoint of luster and crystal size. A few rough spots keep the piece from being perfect, but it's still in reasonable shape compared to many from Viloco which are so bashed that they are essentially ore samples. There are some micro Tourmaline crystals on the reverse side of the piece as well, which is a rare association for Cassiterite. A good representative piece of this classic material. The piece would make a nice addition to any Bolivian suite.