BusinessSeptember 4, 2026

cassiterite

kuh-SIT-uh-rite

Definition

A heavy, dense, brown or black mineral that serves as the primary ore for producing tin.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'kassiteros', meaning tin, combined with the suffix '-ite' used for mineral names. It was formally named in the mid-19th century to identify this specific tin-bearing oxide mineral.

In the news

The article discusses a new X-ray technology designed to detect cassiterite within rock to improve the efficiency of tin ore processing. It is the target mineral that researchers are attempting to identify and separate from barren material.

New ore sorting technology sees inside cassiterite

Read the full article ↗

International Tin Association

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