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?
3-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 8.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, colorless, gray.
- 3Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
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
- 8.5
- Density
- 4.53 g/cm³
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a ferromagnesian chondrule in a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite
Where rockhounds find tistarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Allende meteorite, Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a ferromagnesian chondrule in a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite. If you start seeing khamrabaevite, rutile, corundum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. 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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