More than you ever wanted to know about Cassiterite

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features cassiterite.

 Cassiterite is tin oxide; an ore of tin. Crystals generally form as short prismatic twinned crystals; with a hardness of between 6 and 7. It comes in green-yellow, brown, red and black.

The name, cassiterite, comes from the Greek kassiteros – tin. It is also called tin stone. Without tin there would not have been a Bronze Age, bronze being made from copper and tin.

Lore

There was trade in tin from the Cornwall area of Britain from at least the fourth century B.C. In those times “Smelting was as much an art as a science and depended upon the skill of the smelter who judged from experience when the molten tin was ready for casting into ingots. Thus it was that the aid of Joseph of Arimathea, who later became the patron saint of tin miners, was invoked at this crucial point in the process.” 1

“Cassiterite assists in the manifestation of new forms and the destruction of past forms. It acts as a dimensions doorway between the manifest and unmanifest realms and assists with passages of the soul from the Light into body and back into Light.” 2

“It helps to eliminate feelings of separateness and prejudice. It can be used to ameliorate rejection, to dispel energy related to disapproval, and to encourage optimism.” 3

“Native tin can be used to ease passive-aggressive behavior patterns, and to bring about material, emotional, mental, and spiritual increase.” 4

“This is a great stone for grounding and protecting against negativity. It is said to reflect negativity back to the sender.” 5


1) Glyn S. Lewis “Did Jesus Come to Britain-- An Investigation into the Traditions That Christ Visited Cornwall and Somerset“ pg. 21

2) Naisha Ahsian “The Book of Stones- Who They Are & What They Teach“ pg. 94

3)Melody “Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals” pg. 104

4) Marguerite Elsbeth “Crystal Medicine (More Crystals and New Age) pg. 76

5) Dragons Crystal Reverie http://www.dragonsreverie.com/UnpolAC.html