CASSITERITE on MUSCOVITE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

Four well formed, intergrown clusters of lustrous black twinned Cassiterite crystals measuring overall to 3.8 cm sit on a characteristic matrix of silver, platy Muscovite crystals. This fine cabinet specimen is from the Pingwu Beryl mine at Mount Xuebaoding, Pingwu County, in the Mianyang Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China. When translated, Mount Xuebaoding means Snowy Treasure Peak. The mountain is near the easternmost edge of the Tibetan Plateau in China and its peak stands at 5,500 metres (18,044 ft).