Cassiterite (twinned) (ex Rolando Gioia Collection)

Item Description

Cassiterite as a species is typically not what comes to mind when one thinks of pegmatites. The Linopolis area in Brazil has produced some wondrful pegmatite Cassiterites over the years, and this piece certainly falls into that category. It features a tightly intergrown - yet distinct - sharp, very lustrous, jet-black, interpenetrant cyclic twin free of matrix. The piece is mostly damage free, but it's contacted around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. A lovely display specimen of this well known material. From the collection of Rolando Gioia (a contributor to new definitive book on Brazilian minerals: "Minerais e Pedras Preciosas do Brasil").