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. Streak: white to pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to submetallic.
- 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, so Red Cassiterite leaves white to pale brown, Rutile leaves pale brown, yellowish brown; gray, greenish black with high nb–ta.
How to tell apart: Red Cassiterite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Red Cassiterite leaves white to pale brown, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Red Cassiterite and resinous to adamantine on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Red Cassiterite and vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict 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
Where rockhounds find red cassiterite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bolivia
- China
- Czech Republic
- Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. If you start seeing quartz, tourmaline, topaz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, bipyramidal, or twinned crystals. 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
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
