Name:

titanite (Sphene)

A photo of the mineral titanite

Class:

Silicates

Chemistry:

CaTiSiO5 Calcium Titanium Silicate

Color(s):

brown-black, yellow, gray, green

Hardness:

5 - 5.5

SpecGrav:

3.4 - 3.6

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

distinct

Crystal:

monoclinic (usually sharp edged and tabular

Envronment:

found in magmatic and metamorphic veins

Association:

chlorite, hornblende, rutile, apatite, nepheline, feldspars, quartz, calcite

Locals:

| Germany | Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Montana, USA | Mexico | Austria | Italy | Switzerland | Canada | USSR| Mexico |

Misc:

The Sphene name comes from the Greek "sphen", meaning "wedge", from its sharp wedge shaped crystals. The titanite comes from the titanium constituent of it composition. Soluble in sulfuric acid.

Photos
& Locals:

1.) Tory Hill, Ontario, Canada
2.) Tory Hill, Ontario, Canada

3.) Tory Hill, Ontario, Canada

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