Xuebaoding, Pingwu, China

Black Cassiterite with Muscovite and Aquamarine, Xuebaoding

SKU · TQu3APpBEaYD5x7d
$285.00
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A lustrous black cassiterite group set dead centre in a bed of champagne-coloured muscovite books, with water-clear aquamarine crystals standing around the rim. Xuebaoding, Sichuan. 6.6 × 5.8 × 3.3 cm, 110 g.

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Authenticity guaranteed
Hand-examined + numbered
Worldwide shipping
Insured tracked delivery
Display-ready
Acrylic base included
14-day return
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Specimen details

MineralCassiterite
LocalityXuebaoding, Pingwu, China
Crystal systemTetragonal
Chemical formulaSnO2
Dimensions6.6 cm × 5.8 cm × 3.3 cm
Weight110 g
ColorBlue
SizeSmall Cabinet (2–4 inches / 5–10 cm)
SpeciesAquamarine
ConditionNo damage on display faces

Tags

cassiterite specimenhome decorcollectibleaquamarinedisplay piecemineral specimenGeological Wondercrystalnatural beautyxuebaodinggemstoneunique mineralsCassiterite

About this specimen

A single black eye opens in a bed of pale mica. The cassiterite holds the centre of this Xuebaoding plate, a lustrous jet-black group with a near-metallic sheen and fine striations, ringed by champagne-coloured muscovite books stacked in overlapping fans. Around the outer edge, aquamarine crystals push up through the mica — here water-clear rather than blue — with a milky quartz blade at the right margin.

Xuebaoding in Sichuan is the classic source for this three-way association, cassiterite with beryl and muscovite in greisen-altered granite. Cassiterite is tin oxide, SnO2, at Mohs 6 to 7; the muscovite around it is the softest thing here, barely 2. The mica books bruise and flake long before anything happens to the tin oxide, which is what to remember.

The plate measures 6.6 × 5.8 × 3.3 cm and weighs 110 g. No base is fitted, and it looks best with light raking across the mica so the books flash and the cassiterite stays dark. The images on this page were taken of this plate and no other.

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
Black Cassiterite with Muscovite and Aquamarine, Xuebaoding
Black Cassiterite with Muscovite and Aquamarine, Xuebaoding
$285.00