Titanita
Titanita is a mineral with formula CaTiSiO₅, in the Silicatos (Nesosilicatos) group. This specimen comes from Imilchil, Cercle de Imilchil, Midelt, Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos and joined the Terrium collection in 2015.
Description
Aggregate of titanite crystals in honey, amber, and olive-green tones, with vitreous lustre and well-defined bladed forms. The crystals are concentrated on the upper part of a pale granitic matrix, with pink feldspar and scattered greenish areas.
About Titanita
Calcium and titanium nesosilicate. Titanite, frequently called sphene in the gem market, occurs as sharply defined individual crystals with a characteristic wedge geometry, ranging from bright olive green to translucent dark brown. The immense appeal of this region's finds, which caused a sensation at international gem shows in the mid-2000s, lies in an extraordinary luster driven by a light dispersion so high that the finest specimens actually outperform diamond itself.
About the locality
Rich in pegmatites and contact metamorphism, the Imilchil region features unusual combinations of titanite, orthoclase, and rutile. Specialized collectors highly prize these rare, pristine specimens for their exceptional compositional clarity.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0672
- Composition
- CaTiSiO₅
- Name
- Titanita
- Group
- Silicatos (Nesosilicatos)
- Matrix
- Ortoclasa
- Mine
- Imilchil
- District / Municipality
- Cercle de Imilchil
- Province
- Midelt
- Region
- Drâa-Tafilalet
- Country
- Marruecos
- Acquired
- 2015
- Ex-collection
- Diego Navarro
- Etymology
- Known initially as sphene for its wedge shape, this mineral is now titanite thanks to its key element. William Gregor discovered titanium first and named it manaccanite, but Martin Klaproth later renamed it after the mythical Titans.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Andradita (Melanita) — Marruecos
- Apatito — Marruecos
- Aragonito — Marruecos
- Arfvedsonita — Marruecos
- Azurita — Marruecos
- Azurita — Marruecos
- Azurita — Marruecos