Skip to main content
stannite

stannite

9.9
A dark gray shiny mineral that contains tin, copper, and iron and is a source of tin
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : estannita
  • Samples of stannite are often identified by their distinctive metallic luster.

Examples

  • The extraction of tin from stannite requires careful separation from other minerals.

  • The mineral stannite is often found in hydrothermal veins.

  • Geologists discovered a large deposit of stannite in the mountainous region.

  • Stannite deposits can be valuable for mining companies.

  • Geologists discovered a large deposit of stannite in the mountainous region.

  • Samples of stannite are often identified by their distinctive metallic luster.

  • The extraction of tin from stannite requires careful separation from other minerals.

Synonyms

tin pyrites
vsstannite
  • Archaic
9.9

A dark grey mineral that people mine to get tin

is the formal scientific name used for the same metal ore

Surface Forms

stannite singular
stannites plural

Morphology

stannite = stann + ite

Formed from the combining form 'stann-' (relating to tin) + the mineral suffix '-ite'; the relation to the common word 'tin' is etymological but the form 'stann-' is obscure to average learners.

Etymology

Stannite comes from the Latin stannum, meaning 'tin', and the mineral ending -ite. So stannite literally means a 'tin' mineral, which explains why it is a source of tin.