Titanite is highly prized by collectors for its exceptional dispersion, which often exceeds that of diamond, giving it intense fire when faceted. It commonly occurs as distinct, wedge-shaped monoclinic crystals in metamorphic or igneous host rocks. While beautiful, its lower hardness makes it a delicate choice for jewelry, often categorized under its historical name, Sphene.
Is this titanite?
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 titanite with a known reference. Titanite sits at Mohs 5-5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, green, black, gray, reddish brown, red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crystalline, massive.
Often confused with
Titanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Zircon is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5-5.5); luster reads adamantine to resinous on Titanite and vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict on Zircon.
How to tell apart: Chrysoberyl is the harder of the two (Mohs 8.5 vs. 5-5.5); luster reads adamantine to resinous on Titanite and vitreous on Chrysoberyl.
Often found alongside titanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with titanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaTiSiO₅
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 3.48-3.60 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine to resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, massive
- Cleavage
- Good on {110}; parting due to twinning on {221}
- Fluorescence
- Weak brown under SW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector, Ore of titanium
- Host rock
- A common accessory mineral in intermediate and felsic plutonic rocks, pegmatites, and alpine veins
Where rockhounds find titanite
4 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Tilly Foster mine, Brewster, Putnam Co., at Diana, Lewis Co., Natural Bridge, Jefferson Co., and Monroe, Orange Co., New York, USA
- Tavetsch, Graubünden, Switzerland
- St. Gotthard, Ticino, Switzerland
- Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland
- Val Maggia and St. Marcel, Val d'Aosta, Italy
- Schwartzenstein and Rothenkopf Mountains, Zillertal, Tirol, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A common accessory mineral in intermediate and felsic plutonic rocks, pegmatites, and alpine veins. If you start seeing albite, chlorite, epidote in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New York, Maine, North Carolina. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify titanite?+
Where is titanite found?+
Can I find titanite in the United States?+
What rocks look like titanite?+
What minerals are found with titanite?+
What kind of rock does titanite form in?+
What is titanite used for?+
Find titanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
