RARE GEMSTONE: CASSITERITE. ...

Description

RARE GEMSTONE: CASSITERITE
China
When one thinks of tin, one doesn't generally think of a transparent gemstone but rather something opaque. But Cassiterite is the primary ore for tin. Very rarely some Cassiterite crystals are transparent, as was the case with this stone. Faceted as an oval brilliant, it is colorless to slightly smoky in coloration and has high refraction and dispersion characteristics. There are a number of inclusions but none of serious consequence. This rare and unusual gemstone weighs 7.51 carats and measures 10.5 x 8.7 mm.

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