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
Tin dioxide, an inorganic compound also known as stannic oxide, is the main ore of tin (cassiterite) and is used in various technologies as a semiconductor.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2025
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
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Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Cassiterite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cassiterite. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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