cassiterite

American  

[kuh-sit-uh-rahyt] / kəˈsɪt əˌraɪt /

noun

1. a brown or black mineral, tin dioxide, SnO 2 , that crystallizes in the tetragonal system; tinstone: the principal ore of tin.

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cassiterite British  

/ kəˈsɪtəˌraɪt /

noun

1. Also called: tinstone.  a black or brown mineral, found in igneous rocks and hydrothermal veins. It is a source of tin. Composition: tin oxide. Formula: SnO 2 . Crystal structure: tetragonal

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Etymology

Origin of cassiterite

1855–60; < Greek kassíter ( os ) tin + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

On the recent trip into the forest, they found a recently abandoned gold mine and the active mine harvesting cassiterite, the main ore to make tin.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2023

The principle tin ore is the oxide cassiterite, SnO2, and the principle lead and thallium ores are the sulfides or the products of weathering of the sulfides.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Eastern Congo is blessed with gold, coltan, cassiterite and other minerals.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2012

The workers outside Huaying Trading say the sacks they are unloading contain cassiterite, an ore that yields the tin used as solder in devices such as portable phones and laptop computers.

From Reuters • Oct. 4, 2011

Tin comes from the ore cassiterite; zinc from sphalerite and zincblende, or blackjack.

From Let's Collect Rocks and Shells by Shell Union Oil Corporation