Cassiterite (gemmy cyclic twins) with rare TOURMALINE association

Item Description

This piece is from a discovery in September of 2003. Bolivia and Cassiterite are synonymous. As a nation, it's safe to say that Bolivia has produced more tin ore than anywhere else in the world. Documented mining activity in Bolivia dates back to the Spanish in the 15th century, and certainly for many centuries by native peoples prior to that. One of the best known mines in Bolivia is Viloco (sometimes called Araca) which has given collectors some of the most impressive and highest quality Cassiterite specimens ever found. Here we a lovely thumbnail specimen featuring several fine quality, sharp, highly lustrous, gemmy, golden brown to black cyclic twinned crystals of Cassiterite with individual twins measuring up to 1.4 cm across sitting on white Quartz matrix. The reverse side of the specimen features many small, than acicular greenish-black crystals of Tourmaline! The association of the two minerals is not only rare from Viloco but anywhere in the mineral world ! Not only are the Cassiterite crystals fine quality, but the fact that they are gemmy (Viloco is the only mine in Bolivia to produce facet grade Cassiterite) along with the incredibly rare Tourmaline association makes for a desirable thumbnail specimen. Very few specimens from this locality seem to be coming out in recent years, so don't miss out on this one.