Cassiterite

CassiteriteThe Viloco Mine (sometimes called Araca) for many years has stood as one of the top Cassiterite localities in the world. This mine is still active today and bears the unique distinction of producing the only GEM quality (facet grade) Cassiterites from any mine in Bolivia. Considering the millions of tons of tin ore that Bolivia has yielded, the fact that only one mine ever produced transparent Cassiterite is remarkable. This piece is one of the single

as is the case with the majority of Ferberites from Tasna

and the robust crystals with their sharp

Specimen # BROOK31920

jet-black twinned crystal of Ferberite (twinned along the a{100} face)

and outstanding specimens are few and far between

It is one of the largest Hambergite crystals I've seen from the Palelni Mine

so collecting and obtaining specimens will become very difficult in the future

especially with sharp faces

termites (Isoptera)

the piece is overgrown by many small

but many of them are easily visible with the naked eye and show absolutely water-clear transparency

greenish brown modified rhombic/hexagonal crystals of Siderite which are associated with a beautiful