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
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find tistarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaidun meteorite
- Allende meteorite
Field-hunting tip
Look in cai inclusions in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites country — that is 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
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Find tistarite on the map
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