Cassiterite (interesting habit)

Item Description

Recently there was a very small discovery of Cassiterite crystals at Shengus that were similar to pieces that came out 20 years ago, and really haven't been seen since. Most of these specimens are singles / near "floaters" with attractive, sharp, lustrous striated crystals that resemble pagodas or flying saucers or boats. They have a very high "wet" luster with beautiful form and they really don't look like Cassiterites that I've seen from any locality. They sort of resemble the pegmatite Cassiterites from Linopolis, Brazil, but they're still distinctly different. This piece is nearly complete all the way around, with only a few teensy nicks and tiny point of attachment on the base. It has an attractive "stacked" or layered growth with that "wet" luster I mentioned earlier and pure jet black opacity. It almost resembles a piece of glistening black obsidian my mind. A great thumbnail specimen of this elusive material. If you collect thumbnails, black minerals or minerals of Pakistan, don't miss out on this one.