Cassiterite with Quartz

Unknown Owner

I have seen many very rich small, miniature-sized specimen of crystallized Cassiterite from Wheal Pendarves, but this one is a whole lot bigger. Forming a very dense mass of Cassiterite and Quartz, often an increase in size results in a loss of aesthetics, but this is not the case here. The Quartz and Cassiterite are intergrown, but both are well crystallized. A prominent highly elongated Milky Quartz crystal drawers the eye, protruding out from one end. Large, cm-sized, glossy black Cassiterite crystals start from the base of this Quartz crystal and gradually take dominance over the rest of the piece. The Cassiterite crystals are mostly very well-formed with superb growth-lines, but some do show internal fracturing. Nevertheless, this is a very fine crystallized Cornish Cassiterite which displays very well in an upright position. Ex Malcolm Southwood collection, no. MS 2007.127.