Cassiterite

specimen number:
1052607

location:
St. Agnes, Cornwall, England, UK

description:

Classic Cornish specimen with lustrous crystals of cassiterite to 1.3 cm in size across the top of a quartz matrix. Some damage present, the prominent crystals are in good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video from well-known German dealer F. Krantz. This is dated 1908.

St. Agnes, situated on the north coast of Cornwall, England, is a historic mining district renowned for its high-grade tin production from both coastal cliffs and inland moors. Geologically, the area is dominated by the St. Agnes Granite intrusion, which metamorphosed the surrounding Devonian "killas" slates and generated a complex network of cassiterite-bearing quartz-tourmaline veins. Cassiterite, the primary ore of tin, occurred here in exceptionally rich "bonanza" pockets and is famous for its lustrous, dark brown to black crystals, occasionally found in the distinct "sparable tin" or needle-like habit. Historically, mining and quarrying activities in the St. Agnes district date back to prehistoric times, but the industrial peak occurred between the mid-1700s and the late 1800s. Prominent operations like Wheal Kitty, West Wheal Kitty, and Polberro produced thousands of tons of tin before the general collapse of the Cornish tin market led to the cessation of most major works by the 1920s and 1930s. Today, the iconic engine houses perched on the cliffs of St. Agnes Head serve as a preserved UNESCO World Heritage site, marking the region as a fundamental locality for understanding the evolution of deep-shaft mining technology through 2026.

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