Cassiterite (slightly gemmy cyclic twins)

Item Description

Bolivia is the source of more tin than almost any country in the world. The great tin deposits at Viloco (sometimes called Araca) have produced some of the most magnificent Cassiterite specimens known. This miniature sized specimen hosts good quality, sharp, lustrous, cyclic twinned crystals of Cassiterite free of matrix. The color in the crystals ranges from black to a lovely brownish-golden color and some of the crystals show a bit of gemminess when backlit. The piece is in good shape overall on the display side but it's obviously contacted on the sides and back where it detached from the pocket wall. The largest twin measures 2.1 cm across, which is very good for the locality. These classic specimens from Viloco are simply not seen for sale in today's market and it's cool to note that of the hundreds of tin mines in Bolivia, Viloco is the only one to produce GEM quality Cassiterite crystals.