cassiterite

noun

cas·​sit·​er·​ite kə-ˈsi-tə-ˌrīt 

: a brown or black mineral that consists of tin dioxide and is the chief source of metallic tin

called also tinstone

Examples of cassiterite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tax on a kilogram of coltan and manganese was $7, while the tax on tin (cassiterite) was $4 per kilogram. —Paul Tilsley, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025

But mining for gold and cassiterite, a mineral used in electronics, exacerbates the environmental problems with singular ferocity. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Rwanda’s current-account deficit widened last year as shipment earnings from minerals such as cassiterite, which make up 14 percent of total exports, dropped 27 percent because of lower global commodities prices. —Saul Butera, Bloomberg.com, 10 May 2017

Congo is rich in natural resources, including diamonds, gold, oil, timber, copper, hydropower, cassiterite for tin ore, uranium for nuclear bombs and cobalt for cellphones. —Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

French cassitérite, from Greek kassiteros tin

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cassiterite

• actinolite
• adipocyte
• amphibolite
• anorthosite
• anthophyllite
• aragonite
• carbonatite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite
• dithionite
• electrolyte

Kids Definition

cassiterite

noun

cas·​sit·​er·​ite kə-ˈsit-ə-ˌrīt 

: a brown or black mineral that consists of tin and oxygen and is the chief source of tin