Native titanium is an extremely rare terrestrial mineral, often occurring as microscopic grains or inclusions within chromite or other ultramafic assemblages. It is best known to collectors as an extraterrestrial phase found in specific meteorites, characterized by its metallic luster and silver-white appearance.
Is this native titanium?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch native titanium with a known reference. Native Titanium sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Titanium leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Titanium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, silver-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: grains, inclusions in other minerals.
Often confused with
Native Titanium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Native Titanium and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Titanium leaves black, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads metallic on Native Titanium and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Native Titanium is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 4-5); streak differs — Native Titanium leaves black, Iron leaves gray.
Often found alongside native titanium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native titanium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ti
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 4.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Grains, Inclusions in Other Minerals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Chromitites, Ultramafic Rocks, Meteorites
- Typical price
- $500+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find native titanium
Classic worldwide localities
- Khatyrka meteorite
- Urals, Russia
- various chromitites
Field-hunting tip
Look in chromitites, ultramafic rocks, meteorites country — that is the host setting where native titanium typically forms. If you start seeing chromite, olivine, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a grains, inclusions in other minerals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native titanium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
