Cassiterite (cyclic twins)

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 several excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, jet-black, cyclic twinned crystals with minor Quartz underneath forming an attractive display piece. The largest Cassiterite measures 2.2 cm across. Incidentally, of all the tin mines in Bolivia, Viloco is the only one to produce gem grade Cassiterite, and those pieces only comprise about 1% of what comes out of the ground. This specimen is a very nice display piece of this material, and I can't really see any damage to the display side with the naked eye. These classic specimens from Viloco are simply not seen for sale in today's market very often.