Cassiterite vs Magnetite
| Property | Cassiterite | Magnetite |
|---|---|---|
| Formel | SnO2 | Fe3O4 |
| Kristallsystem | Tetragonal | Cubic (Isometric) |
| Mineralklasse | 04 Oxides and Hydroxides | 04 Oxides and Hydroxides |
| Mohshärte | 6.0-7.0 | 5.5-6.5 |
| Farbe | Brown, black, reddish-brown, yellow | Black |
| Glanz | Adamantine | Metallic |
| Strichfarbe | White to pale brown | Black |
| Transparenz | Translucent | Opaque |
| Spaltbarkeit | Poor {100} | None |
| Bruch | 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.