Cassiterite with Muscovite

This piece features sharp cassiterite crystals of highly unusual habit, and with spectacular luster as well. They are well isolated on contrasting matrix of mica. However, one crystal has a small bit of missing tip, facing outwards. It is hard to see unless you look very, very closely, but it is there. Nevertheless, it is a unique and rare style from this mine for cassiterite, with the mirror luster and sharp untwinned faces, and so was clearly worth keeping in the important suites of China minerals in the Smale collection — for decades, as this is 1990s or early 2000s production. Crystals to 2.8 cm.