Red Cassiterite is an uncommon, gemmy variety of the primary tin ore, prized by collectors for its vivid reddish-brown color and high luster. It typically forms as prismatic or bipyramidal crystals and is often found in high-temperature hydrothermal vein systems or associated with granite pegmatites.
Is this red cassiterite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch red cassiterite with a known reference. Red Cassiterite sits at Mohs 6-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Red Cassiterite leaves a white to pale brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Red Cassiterite typically shows a adamantine to submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic, bipyramidal, or twinned crystals.
Often confused with
Red Cassiterite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Red Cassiterite leaves white to pale brown, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Red Cassiterite and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Red Cassiterite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Red Cassiterite leaves white to pale brown, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Red Cassiterite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Red Cassiterite leaves white to pale brown, Zircon leaves white; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Red Cassiterite and adamantine on Zircon.
Often found alongside red cassiterite
Minerals reported to co-occur with red cassiterite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SnO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 6.8-7.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White to Pale Brown
- Luster
- Adamantine to Submetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Bipyramidal, Or Twinned Crystals
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Tin
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins and Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on crystal size and transparency
Where rockhounds find red cassiterite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bolivia
- China
- Czech Republic
- Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites country — that is the host setting where red cassiterite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, tourmaline, topaz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, bipyramidal, or twinned crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in South Dakota — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find red cassiterite on the map
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