Titanite



    Titanite or sphene is a yttrium.

Naming

The use of sphene as this mineral's name has been discredited by the gemstones.

Physical properties

Titanite, which is named for its titanium content, occurs as translucent to transparent, reddish brown, gray, yellow, green, or red metamict.

Titanite is a source of pigments and is admired as a gemstone when suitably free of flaws.

Occurrence

Titanite occurs in granite. Source localites include: Pakistan, Italy, Russia, China, Brazil, Switzerland, Madagascar, the Tyrol (Austria), Canada (Renfrew County, Ontario) and the USA (California).


Use as a gemstone

As a gemstone, sphene is usually some shade of chartreuse and is highly prized for its exceptional dispersive power (0.051, B to G interval) which exceeds that of diamond. Unfortunately, brittleness and low hardness precludes appropriate use as a ring stone: sphene is more suited to pendants or brooches, or left unset as a collector's stone.

See also

List of minerals

References

  • Webmineral data
  • Mindat.org
 
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