Titantaramellite is a rare barium-titanium silicate mineral typically occurring as small, brown tabular crystals in metamorphic contact zones. It is closely associated with the unique barium silicate minerals found in the sanbornite deposits of Fresno County, California.
Is this titantaramellite?
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 titantaramellite with a known reference. Titantaramellite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze brown, purple red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, prismatic.
Often confused with
Titantaramellite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside titantaramellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with titantaramellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₄(Ti,Fe,Mg)₄(O,OH)₂[B₂Si₈O₂₇]Clx
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 4.05 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent or opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, prismatic
- Cleavage
- {100}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the contact zones around granite, quartz monzonite, and quartz diorite intrusives
Where rockhounds find titantaramellite
Classic worldwide localities
- Rush Creek and Big Creek, Fresno Co., at Chickencoop Canyon, Tulare Co., on Trumbull Peak, near Incline, Mariposa Co., and in the Kalkar quarry, Santa Cruz Co., California, USA
- La Madrelena mine, Tres Pozos, Baja California, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the contact zones around granite, quartz monzonite, and quartz diorite intrusives. If you start seeing sanbornite, quartz, macdonaldite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify titantaramellite?+
Where is titantaramellite found?+
What rocks look like titantaramellite?+
What minerals are found with titantaramellite?+
What kind of rock does titantaramellite form in?+
What is titantaramellite used for?+
Find titantaramellite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
