cassiteritetyyppiset

Cassiteritetyyppiset, a Finnish term, translates to "cassiterite-type" in English and refers to a specific crystal structure classification. Cassiterite itself is a mineral composed of tin dioxide (SnO2) and is the primary ore of tin. Minerals that exhibit the cassiterite-type structure share similar arrangements of atoms in their crystalline lattice.

The cassiterite crystal structure is tetragonal and belongs to the space group I41/amd. In this structure, tin atoms are typically located at the corners and the body center of the unit cell, while oxygen atoms occupy specific interstitial positions. This arrangement results in a relatively dense packing of atoms.

Many minerals can crystallize with the cassiterite-type structure, even if they are not chemically related to cassiterite. This structural similarity means that these minerals share analogous geometric arrangements of their constituent atoms. Examples of compounds that can adopt the cassiterite structure include various metal dioxides, such as rutile (TiO2), although rutile actually crystallizes in a different, though related, structure (the rutile type). However, some synthetic compounds and other naturally occurring oxides and sulfides can exhibit the cassiterite structural motif. The classification is based on the coordination and bonding of the cations and anions within the crystal lattice, leading to a predictable pattern of atomic positions. Understanding these structural types is crucial in mineralogy and materials science for predicting physical and chemical properties of crystalline substances.