Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral, SnO2. It is generally opaque, but it is translucent in thin crystals. Its luster and multiple crystal faces produce a desirable gem. Cassiterite has been the chief tin ore throughout ancient history and remains the most important source of tin today.
Weardale is a dale, or valley, of the east side of the Pennines in County Durham, England. Large parts of Weardale fall within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – the second largest AONB in England and Wales. The upper valley is surrounded by high fells and heather grouse moors. The River Wear flows through Weardale before reaching Bishop Auckland and then Durham, meeting the sea at Sunderland.
Wubu County is located in the southeastern corner of Yulin City, in the north of Shaanxi Province, China, and on the western bank of the Yellow River. It is opposite to Shanxi's Liulin County and also borders Jia County and Suide County. The typical landscape within the county is loess plateau and drought usually hovers in the area creating serious soil erosion.
Bayan'obo Mining District,, or Baiyun-Obo or Baiyun'ebo, is a mining town in the west of Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Baotou City, the downtown of which is more than 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the south.
Blue John is a semi-precious mineral, a form of fluorite with bands of a purple-blue or yellowish colour. In the UK it is found only at Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern at Castleton in Derbyshire. During the 19th century, it was mined for its ornamental value, and mining continues on a small scale. Deposits of fluorite have been recently found in China with colouring and banding similar to the classic Blue John stone.
The Shizhuyuan mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern China in Hunan. Shizhuyuan represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in China having estimated reserves of 45.9 million tonnes of ore grading 21.7% fluorite.
The Sumoqagan mine is a large mine located in the northern China in Inner Mongolia. Sumoqagan represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in China having estimated reserves of 10.3 million tonnes of ore grading 53.9% fluorite.
The Taolin mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern China in Hunan. Taolin represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in China having estimated reserves of 6.1 million tonnes of ore grading 14.3% fluorite.
The Hushan mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern China in Zhejiang. Hushan represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in China having estimated reserves of 4.5 million tonnes of ore grading 50% fluorite.
The Suranskoye mine is a large mine located in the south-western Russia in Bashkortostan. Suranskoye represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 2.01 million tonnes of ore grading 42.6% fluorite.
The Yaroslavsky mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Yaroslavsky represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 51.3 million tonnes of ore grading 30.9% fluorite.
The Verity mine is a large mine located about '30 miles kilometres north-northeast of Blue River in southeastern British Columbia', Canada. Verity represents one of the largest tantalum reserves in Canada having estimated reserves of 3.06 million tonnes of ore grading 0.02% tantalum, 0.065% niobium and 3.2% fluorite.
The Garsonuiskoe mine is a large mine located in the south Russia in Zabaykalsky Krai. Garsonuiskoe represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 9.5 million tonnes of ore grading 30.6% fluorite.
The Preobrazhenovskoye mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Preobrazhenovskoye represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 14.9 million tonnes of ore grading 6.22% fluorite.
The Voznesenka mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Voznesenka represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 450 million tonnes of ore grading 35% fluorite.
The Egitinskoye mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Egitinskoye represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 4.2 million tonnes of ore grading 53.2% fluorite.
The Kalanguyskoye mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Kalanguyskoye represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 6.3 million tonnes of ore grading 60% fluorite.
The Solonechnoye mine is a large mine located in the south-eastern Russia in Primorsky Krai. Solonechnoye represents one of the largest fluorite reserves in Russia having estimated reserves of 2.8 million tonnes of ore grading 67% fluorite.
