Tistarite is an extremely rare titanium oxide mineral primarily found in extraterrestrial settings like carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. It typically occurs as microscopic grains embedded within calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, making it an object of study for planetary scientists rather than a typical collector mineral.
Is this tistarite?
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 tistarite with a known reference. Tistarite sits at Mohs 9, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tistarite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tistarite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, colorless, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: microscopic grains.
Often confused with
Tistarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside tistarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tistarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ti₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 9
- Density
- 4.02 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- CAI Inclusions in Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorites
Where rockhounds find tistarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaidun meteorite
- Allende meteorite
Field-hunting tip
Look in cai inclusions in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites country, the host setting where tistarite typically forms. If you start seeing osbornite, panguite, forsterite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microscopic grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tistarite?+
Where is tistarite found?+
What rocks look like tistarite?+
What minerals are found with tistarite?+
What kind of rock does tistarite form in?+
What is tistarite used for?+
Find tistarite on the map
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