Xuebaoding, Pingwu, China

Cassiterite Crystal Specimen, Xuebaoding Mountain, China

SKU · 1002
$2,070.00 $2,300.00
Free worldwide shipping over $38

This collectible Cassiterite crystal from Xuebaoding Mountain, China, is a superb example of the species. The crystal is well-terminated, with good luster and a degree of translucence that is uncommon for Cassiterite. It is an impressive specimen that would be a highlight in any collection of Chinese or rare minerals.

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Authenticity guaranteed
Hand-examined + numbered
Worldwide shipping
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Acrylic base included
14-day return
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Specimen details

MineralCassiterite
LocalityXuebaoding, Pingwu, China
Crystal systemTetragonal
Chemical formulaSnO2
Dimensions7.1 cm × 5.6 cm × 7.6 cm
Weight425 g
ColorClear
SizeSmall Cabinet (2–4 inches / 5–10 cm)
SpeciesCassiterite
ConditionNo damage on display faces

Tags

cassiterite specimenmineral collectionnatural crystalmineral specimenXuebaoding Mountaincollectible mineralunique specimenChinese MineralsgeologycrystalxuebaodinggemstoneCassiterite

About this specimen

Cassiterite at its best looks less like an ore of tin than like sculpted black glass, and this Xuebaoding crystal is exactly that: a twinned specimen with jet-black, mirror-bright faces that flash as the piece turns. Along the thin edges the black gives way to deep red-brown translucence in strong light — the hidden glow that separates gem-grade Xuebaoding cassiterite from ordinary dark material.

The crystal rises from a cream-colored bed of drusy quartz threaded with silvery muscovite blades, the classic pastel matrix of the alpine-type fissure veins above Pingwu, Sichuan. The contrast does the display work by itself: black mirror above, sparkling white below.

Cassiterite (SnO2) is astonishingly dense for its size — this piece weighs 425 g at just 7.1 × 5.6 × 7.6 cm, and the heft in hand is part of the pleasure of the species. The Xuebaoding pockets that produced twinned crystals like this have gone quiet, and clean examples now move mostly between collections rather than out of the ground.

An acrylic display base is included. Every photograph shows the specimen itself.

About Cassiterite

Cassiterite is an oxide mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.

Learn more about Cassiterite in our encyclopedia

About Xuebaoding, Pingwu

Xuebaoding (Mount Little Xuebaoding), Huya Township, Pingwu County, Mianyang, Sichuan, China — source of cassiterite, scheelite, and beryl on muscovite matrix.

More specimens from this locality

Frequently asked questions

Will I receive the exact specimen shown?

Yes. Every specimen is a single, one-of-a-kind piece, and the photographs show the exact item you will receive — never a stock photo.

Is this Cassiterite natural?

Yes — specimens like this form naturally. As is standard in the trade, some pieces are gently cleaned or trimmed; we photograph the actual specimen and describe its origin and condition conservatively.

How is it packed and shipped?

Orders ship worldwide with fully insured, tracked delivery, carefully packed to protect fragile crystals. A display base is included.

Can I return it?

Yes — there is a 14-day return window.

What collectors say

★★★★★4.97· Verified reviews
Cassiterite Crystal Specimen, Xuebaoding Mountain, China
Cassiterite Crystal Specimen, Xuebaoding Mountain, China
$2,300.00$2,070.00