granules of tin on an hourglass — Photo: Nefronus · CC0
Tin
Soft, silvery native tin (symbol Sn, atomic number 50) — the metal of bronze, occasionally found as grains in placers.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Tin is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula Sn.
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4_1/amd).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1.5–1.8; specific gravity 7.31; typically gray or white; Metallic. Anisotropism: Moderate. R1 –R2: (400) 76.3–72.7, (420) 79.4–74.2, (440) 81.9–75.8, (460) 84.0–77.6 luster.
IMA symbol Sn, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1844.
Rare, in some placers; in unspecified kimberlite pipes; in seafloor spreading zones.
It is found associated with Platinum, iridosmine, gold, copper, sorosite, cassiterite.
A word of Old English origin, related to the Dutch tin and German zinn; the chemical symbol from the Latin stannum.
Collections: Metals & Native Elements, Rare & Remarkable.