Cassiterite vs Magnetite

Property Cassiterite Magnetite
الصيغة الكيميائية SnO2 Fe3O4
النظام البلوري Tetragonal Cubic (Isometric)
صنف المعدن 04 Oxides and Hydroxides 04 Oxides and Hydroxides
صلادة موس 6.0-7.0 5.5-6.5
اللون Brown, black, reddish-brown, yellow Black
اللمعان Adamantine Metallic
لون الخط White to pale brown Black
الشفافية Translucent Opaque
الانفصام Poor {100} None
الكسر Subconchoidal to uneven Conchoidal to uneven

Key Differences

  • Cassiterite (SnO2) is the tin ore; magnetite (Fe3O4) is the magnetic iron ore.
  • Cassiterite has a much higher specific gravity (6.8–7.1) than magnetite (5.17–5.18).
  • Cassiterite has adamantine luster; magnetite has metallic luster.
  • Magnetite is strongly magnetic; cassiterite is not.
  • Cassiterite is tetragonal; magnetite is cubic — different crystal habits.

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