Cassiterite with Quartz

Unknown Owner

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Well developed black crystals of Cassiterite with a brilliant lustre, together with small, transparent Quartz crystals, richly cover a 7 x 4 cm sloping surface of a block of mixed slate and massive Quartz. The overall size of this beautiful cabinet specimen is 11 x 6 x 6 cm and the Cassiterite crystal range between 4 and 8 mm. Its only known location is Cornwall, yet its provenance of ownership reads like a who's who! It first belonged to Sir John St. Aubyn (1758-1839), who owned St. Michael's Mount!. It then moved to the Military Library Museum in Devonport (1834) and then to Plymouth City Museum in 1924. It is then though to have passed into the hands of Sir Arthur Russell, followed by Richard W. Barstow. More recent owners are noted on the comprehensive label accompanying the specimen. More detailed information is also recorded on the most recent label and it is highly probably this magnificent Cassiterite is from St. Michael's Mount. It is a superb specimen and would sit most comfortably among the very fine Cassiterites on display in the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.