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Cassiterite, “Sparable Tin,” from Cornwall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2018

Extract

During the last few years some fresh specimens of Sparable Tin have been raised from various mines in Cornwall; a description of this variety may therefore be of interest to the Society.

The value of this description of the now finds will perhaps be increased by combining with it an account of the specimens of Sparable Tin from different mines now to be found in our museums and private collections. Through the kindness of those gentlemen who own or have charge of these collections, I have been enabled to see and examine many of the interesting specimens which they contain.

The name "Sparable Tin" is peculiar to Cornwall, and has been given to this variety of Cassiterito on account of its so-called resemblance to the sparable nail of the cobbler.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1891

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References

page note 1 Sparable may be the corruption of Sparrow-bill, so-called from its shape; O.E. Sparwa, a sparrow, literally ‘ a flutterer'; or the meaning of sparable nail may be simply that which spars or rivets, since AS. ‘ sparriam’ means to fasten or rivet.