Cassiterite (cyclic twins)

Viloco Mine, Loayza Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia
Miniature, 4.8 x 4.2 x 1.7 cm
Start Time: 09/27/2018 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 10/04/2018 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

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 hosts fine quality, very sharp, highly lustrous, cyclic twinned crystals of Cassiterite on a tiny bit of matrix. The color in the Cassiterites is mostly jet black, but with very strong backlighting, you can see a slight brownish-golden color. The piece is in excellent shape overall, and the largest twin measures 1.6 cm across. A few crystals have separation marks on the edges where they were removed from the pocket wall, but most of the twins are pristine. These classic specimens from Viloco are simply not seen for sale in today's market, and to find a crystal group like this is not at all common!

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