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Clark et. al. 2003 USGS Open File Report 03-395
Spectral Library splib05a Sample Description

(For further information on spectrsocopy, see: http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov)

TITLE: Cassiterite HS279 DESCRIPT

DOCUMENTATION_FORMAT: MINERAL

SAMPLE_ID: HS279

MINERAL_TYPE: Oxide

MINERAL: Cassiterite (Rutile group)

FORMULA: SnO2

FORMULA_HTML: SnO2

COLLECTION_LOCALITY: Nigeria

ORIGINAL_DONOR: Hunt and Salisbury Collection

CURRENT_SAMPLE_LOCATION: USGS Denver Spectroscopy Laboratory

ULTIMATE_SAMPLE_LOCATION: USGS Denver Spectroscopy Laboratory

SAMPLE_DESCRIPTION:

Close to SnO2 with Sn 78.6%, O 21.4%. Small amounts of Fe+3 may be present and lesser amounts of Nb and Ta substitute for Sn. The structure is that of rutile.

"O-2. Cassiterite. Nigeria (279B). Cassiterite, SnO2, is the most important ore of tin. It is often found in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites, but also forms as a result of secondary processes in the oxidation zone of weathered tin deposits. Ferric iron is usually present as well as small amounts of tantalum and columbium. Because features due to the Sn2+ ion occur only in the ultraviolet, it is the presence of impurities which color the cassiterite so that it is commonly reddish brown to almost black. This particular sample is a dark reddish brown massive variety, with inclusions of limonite and quartz. The fall-off in reflectivity of this sample toward the blue we attribute to the presence of iron (0.2% by weight), which produces a tailing off of the absorption edge of the conduction band due to extrinsic absorption. Near-infrared iron bands, which are seen in other minerals in this series, are not displayed by cassiterite, because the iron is not in an octahedral site. In addition, the low reflectivity in the 1µ region would tend to quench any bands, such as should be displayed by a limonitic contaminant. The principal effect of this contaminant is seen in the largest particle size range, which has a slightly higher reflectivity than the 74- 250µ size range. Inspection of the 250-1200µ sample reveals that light colored limonite and quartz inclusions are present as individual grains in this size range, which probably explains its higher reflectivity. The reflectivity of all size ranges is reduced substantially in the infrared after acid leaching has removed most of the ferric oxide."

Hunt, G.R., J.W. Salisbury, and C.J. Lenhoff, 1971, Visible and near-infrared spectra of minerals and rocks: III. Oxides and hydroxides. Modern Geology, v. 2, p. 195-205.

Sieve interval 74 - 250µm.

The spectrum here goes to 0.2 µm, considerably shorter than the Hunt et al. spectrum in the above paper. From the new spectrum, we can see that the features are not those of limonite. However, the limonite impurity may brighten the spectrum slightly. Roger N. Clark

END_SAMPLE_DESCRIPTION.

XRD_ANALYSIS:

40 kV - 30 mA, 7.0-9.5 keV
File: cstrt279.out, -.mdi
Reference: JCPDS 41-1445
Found: cassiterite
Quartz sought but not found

Comment: Exceptionally sharp peaks indicate high degree of crystallinity and compositional homogeneity. Found all reflections with intensity > 1%. No other reflections present.

J.S. Huebner, J. Pickrell, T. Schaefer, written communication 1994

END_XRD_ANALYSIS:

COMPOSITIONAL_ANALYSIS_TYPE: None # XRF, EM(WDS), ICP(Trace), WChem

COMPOSITION_TRACE: None

None

COMPOSITION_DISCUSSION:

END_COMPOSITION_DISCUSSION.

MICROSCOPIC_EXAMINATION:

Mode:
77-82 vol% cassiterite
10-15 vol% limonite grains
8 vol% magnetite (may be intergrown with cassiterite)

Translucent red, high birefringence, weak pleochroism, all consistent with cassiterite. Acid wash and Franz-separator treatment may be able to remove impurities. G. Swayze.

END_MICROSCOPIC_EXAMINATION.

SPECTROSCOPIC_DISCUSSION:

END_SPECTROSCOPIC_DISCUSSION.

SPECTRAL_PURITY: 1c2_3_4_ # 1= 0.2-3, 2= 1.5-6, 3= 6-25, 4= 20-150 microns

LIB_SPECTRA_HED: where Wave Range Av_Rs_Pwr Comment
LIB_SPECTRA: splib04a r 852 0.2-3.0µm 200 g.s.= 240 µm
LIB_SPECTRA: splib05a r 1568 0.2-3.0µm 200 g.s.=


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