Cassiterite

Ehrenfriedersdorf is a town in the district of Erzgebirge in Saxony, Germany and the district surrounding it is famous for its 150 mineral species.  Although not directly attributed, many of the specimens labelled Ehrenfriedersdorf are from the nearby Sauberg mine.  This attractive miniature Cassiterite has at least 15 well developed black lustrous crystals mixed with occasional milky to colourless Quartz, covering a mixed Quartz and massive Cassiterite matrix.  Individual Cassiterite crystals can measure to 1 cm across and in places their true translucent clove-brown colour can be observed.  Close examination reveals several twinned equant crystals, apparent from their V-shaped tiny, yet perfectly defined re-entrant angles.  A great Cassiterite from Ehrenfriedersdorf in Germany.