Cassiterite’s name comes from the Phoenician word for tin “cassiterid” (the Greek equivalent is “kassiteros”), which referred generically to the islands of England and Ireland. In fact, around the 6th century BC, Carthage (the greatest Phoenician colony) tried to create a tin monopoly by importing tin ores directly from the original areas of extraction, the “tin islands” (Cassiterid Islands), known today as England.



The primary ore of tin, most sources of Cassiterite today are not primary deposits but alluvial deposits containing weathered grains.

Cassiterite has been an important tin ore for eons and is still the greatest source of tin today. During the Bronze Age it was added to molten copper to form bronze. Some of the oldest Cassiterite mines, such as those in Cornwall, England have been worked since 2000 BC and are now exhausted. But this multifunctional ore is much more than just an industrial mineral, some rare specimens of Cassiterite are definitely gem quality: rare, beautiful and durable.

To discover the beauty of this gem, the rough material needs polishing. Once this is completed, Cassiterite displays a high luster which, in combination with its multiple crystal faces, produces stunning brilliance.

Cassiterite is usually black, reddish brown and yellow in color and gems larger than 1 carat are exceedingly rare. If you are looking for a gem with a historic connection to England to proudly adorn your body, Cassiterite must surely be a first choice.