Cassiterite

specimen number:
2063013

location:
Zinnwald-Cinovec, Czech Republic-Germany

description:
A nice miniature for this European classic. Sharply formed lustrous black crystal of cassiterite just under 2.0 cm in size is embedded up on a quartz matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark who acquired the piece via trade with the University of New Mexico Geological Department.

The geological formation of Zinnwald-Cinovec features a complex granite-hosted greisen deposit situated within the Ore Mountains along the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. Magmatic hydrothermal processes altered the host rocks, creating extensive sub-horizontal quartz-greisen veins and stockworks enriched in rare metals. Mining history in this district began around the end of the thirteenth century, initially focusing on artisanal extraction. Over subsequent centuries, underground operations expanded significantly to recover resources such as tin and tungsten, playing a vital role in Central European industrial history. Modern evaluations have transformed the legacy site into a major contemporary resource for critical battery metals like lithium.

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