Cassiterite (twins) (ex Rolando Gioia Collection)

Linopolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Small Cabinet, 6.6 x 3.7 x 1.2 cm
Start Time: 12/07/2017 6:30:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 12/14/2017 7:00:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

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 dozens of tightly intergrown - yet distinct - sharp, very lustrous, jet-black, interpenetrant cyclic twins measuring up to 8 mm. The Cassiterites are mostly damage free, save the periphery, where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. They are actually sitting on a very thin layer of Albite, but I wouldn't really call it matrix. 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").

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