Description
Beautiful cassiterite crystals on a matrix of cleavelandite / albite.
Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral that is often found in association with cleavelandite, a platy variety of albite. Cleavelandite is a common constituent of pegmatites, where it forms warped masses of mineral with lamellae parallel to (010) and may be twinned on the albite law. Cassiterite crystals on cleavelandite are rare and highly sought after by mineral collectors. They exhibit a striking contrast of jet black color and breathtaking luster for the cassiterite and white to bluish color and pearly luster for the cleavelandite.
From Afghanistan
Size: 60 x 38 x 35 mm. 162 grams