Mining Mirror August 2018 | Page 24

Mining in focus The tin resurgence Tin has become a sought-after metal in the electronic age, writes Nicolaas C. Steenkamp. Cassiterite is mainly found in quartz-pegmatite veins, along with a number of other minerals. The pegmatite veins are usually associated with evolved granitic host rocks. There is particular interest in pegmatite deposits that host both tin and lithium mineralisation. The core samples in picture are from Alphamin’s Bisie mine in the DRC. [22] MINING MIRROR AUGUST 2018