Trimorphic with Rutile & Brookite
If you want a fine specimen of Anatase in your collection you usually want one from the older localities in Switzerland or one from the newer ones from Norway. Which locality has produced better specimens? I prefer the ones from Switzerland, but also want a good one from Norway. There are many localities for Anatase and many localities produce beautiful sharp crystals that micromounters cherish. You could probably put together a collection of Anatase from over fifty localities if you tried. Most of the specimens would look rather nondescript and the Anatase crystals on them would be best appreciated under a microscope. Many micro sized crystals of Anatase are sharp, steeply bipyramidal and a translucent blue or brown in colour. Often they are growing on beautifully contrasting white quartz or Albite and make for striking specimens under the microscope.
Anatase is a commonly found in small quantities in alpine pockets where it can occur with its too other polymorphs. It is also found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and as a fine-grained alteration product of various titanium bearing minerals. The number of localities that produce fine large crystals is quite limited but the number of localities that produce good micro crystals is much larger.
Harjo Neutkens, 2010
Gulnare Anatase are not commonly seen or collected, but are amongst the best from Australia
Area famous for orange to red Anatase crystals, especially Grauleiten mountain hasdelivered some outstanding red Anatase. Brown to almost black Anatase crystals come from the Plattenkogel mountain.
This area includes the mountains located in close vicinity to Ankogel mountain (3246 m), which is the second highest elevation in the Ankogel group and one of the highest elevations in the Eastern Alps. Specimens coming from this area are often simply labelled 'Ankogel'. However, the latter actually refers to Ankogel mountain only.
Quarry (long abandoned) with mineralized clefts in a granite-gneiss, disseminated by aplite and pegmatite veins.
Located east of Böckstein.
In 2005 Harjo Neutkens discovered a very interesting and prolific Anatase locality near the Leffler source in the lower Habach valley. Several Quartz fissures in black Phylite (Schwarzphylit, a grey to black Schist) were encountered holding hundreds of Anatase accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Ilmenite, Apatite, Synchysite, Calcite, Aragonite, Adularia and Quartz crystals. Most of the Anatase crystals show a tabular habit and have an almost opaque black colour although blue Anatase crystals showing a double pyramidal habit have also been found in 2007. Two other noteworthy Anatase localities in the lower Habach valley close to the Leffler source are the Windbach and the Schönbach valleys, it is said that in the early 1900s or late 1800s an Anatase crystal has been found in the Schönbach area measuring 4 cm. Nowadays it is still quite easy to find nice blue Anatase in the Schönbach up to 0,5 cm in length. The best locality for Anatase in the upper Habach valley is the Teufelsmüle area, an area most famous for fantastic finds of electric green Sphene.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Rocksled material, consisting mainly of aplitic gneisses with small miarolitic cavities hosting some rare minerals. many fine Anatase specimens have been found, most notoriously interestingly twinned Anatase crystals.
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Rauris valley, especially from the Grieswies area, a shallow slope on the eastern side of Grieswies-Schwarzkopf mountain, adjoined by steep cliffs to the west. These rocks contain numerous clefts, some of which reach very large dimensions. The Grieswies itself is composed of rocksled material, dating back to prehistoric times when a large part of the northeast slope of Hocharn mountain slipped off.
In 2005 very nice orange to red Anatase crystals up to 0,3 cm in length were discovered in a quarry south of the small provincial town of Bertrix by José Dehove and Harjo Neutkens. The Anatase crystals sit on Quartz and are accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Apatite, Albite, Fuchsite and Xenotyme-(Y).
Harjo Neutkens 2009
Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals in excess of 1 cm were found there.
Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens were found there, the Anatase crystals could reach up to 1 cm in length.
Mineralogical Record, 16 (2), 111-115
Info needed.
Minas Gerais, Minas Novas. In 1986 Ed Swoboda came to Tucson with “a superb lot of large, bluish black anatase crystals on matrix from Minas Novas…The largest crystal measures nearly 3 cm; most are 1 cm or so. The habit is typically bipyramidal; the matrix is smoky quartz. About 25 really good specimens and a couple of flats of mediocre material comprised the find.”1 Also, probably found at the same locality “sleek blue-black bipyramids to 2.5 cm long on brown quartz crystal matrixes; a 3.5 x 3.5-cm matrix with 2+ cm anatase crystals sold for $220.”2 The author was talking about some specimens at the Ste. Marie-aux-Mines mineral show in France in 1988. The locality Lavrinha means only little mine in Portuguese and is probably little more than a small pit.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.17, 1986 p207. Mineralogical Record Vol.20 1989 p146.
“Some of the titanite crystals from the Cardiff mine have been replaced by anatase resulting in light brown “leucoxene” pseudomorphs after titanite. Leucoxene is a discredited name, one that was given to a mixture of iron and titanium minerals.”1 George Robinson tells me via email that these pseudomorphs were found loose in the soil or in coarse calcite-syenite matrix. He says that he found crystals up to 7 cm, but the largest crystal was only a partial crystal and the most abundant associated minerals were allanite, pyroxene and microcline.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p80.
Photos needed
Here “Fine crystals of ilmenite weighing more than 30kgs have been found associated with magnetite, biotite, microcline and apatite in a small calcite vein-dike…”1 Some of these crystals are replaced by anatase. These and the pseudomorphs are a little rough for the tastes of most collectors.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p76.
Photos needed.
This crystal measures approximately 1 cm long. It was collected by Mr Roseberry of Thetford Mines in an alpine type vein with brookite crystals
Info needed.
Quarry in operation, just west of the junction of Pino. Recently analysis proved Röntgenite on some of the Anatase crystals.
Pierre le Roc'h, 2009
Active quarry.
Info needed.
Dumps from a roadcut.
St Christophe-en-Oisans is the type locality for Anatase.
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Lauzière massif, most notably at la Madelaine pass and Entre Deux Roches localities. Some crystal exceeded 4 cm in length. The Anatase found at Madelaine pass often show an elongated habit.
Operating gneiss quarry with mineralised calcite and quartz veins, as well as calcsilicate rocks. The quarry is known for nice flat tabular Anatase crystals. Access is strictly prohibited.
Diabase Quarry known for some of the best Anatase specimens of Germany. The crystals range in colour from brown to blue and can reach up to 0,5 cm and a great variety of forms are encountered. The Anatase are often accompanied by Rutile, Titanite and nice Brookite crystals that can reach up to 1,5 cm.
Outcrops of Taunus quartzite on the steep slopes above the "Saarschleife", a horseshoe bend of the river Saar.
Located about 1 km ESE of Orscholz (near Mettlach) and about 500 m NW of Dreisbach.
Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals up to 1 cm have been found accompanied by Brookite and Monazite (up to 0,8cm!)
Near the provincial town of Oelsnitz Anatase can be found in an old quarry near the village of Bösenbrunn and on the dumps of a former mine near the village of Schönbrunn. The Anatase are quite small and rarely exceed 0,2 cm but they show atractive colours (yellow, orange, brown, black).
Anatase crystals occuring in Alpine type fissures. Notable localities for good Anatase crystals are the edges of the Brenva, Miage and Triolet glaciers as well as the Petite Mont Blanc mountain.
Info needed.
Area with cretaceous sedimentary rocks with hydrothermal veins that contain interesting minerals.
Info needed on specimens from this locality.
Yellow anatase crystals to a few mm associated with platy orange brookite crystals that measure 2 cm in length and 1 cm in length on matrix.
The mineralized rock is represented by an Oligocenic sandstone. It is very much fractured and crossed by quartz and albite veins, which often host interesting minerals.
Info needed.
Info needed.
Info needed.
Info needed.
Mahaiza is a small town and a market place about 20 km west of the city Antsirabe and 10 km south of the city Betafo in the central highland of Madagascar. The town is easily accessible by car. Many minerals from numerous different localities, mostly south of Mahaiza -many as far away as 30-40km- are been brought here by local people for sale. Among the localities you'll f.ex. find the Tsaramanga (Itongafeno) pegmatite known for its beryl with the Tongafeno blue-colour and large good columbite xls. Or f.ex the Antsongombato gem mine, famous for its large londonite crystals. Minerals bought here in Mahaiza and which finds their way to foreign mineral collections are very often labeled just Mahaiza.
Hordaland Fylke, Ullensvang Statsallmenning, Matskorhae. This locality has also been know as Hardangervidda (vidda=high plateau). Local collectors informally call it “Grisebingen” which means the pig pen. The name is a derogatory Norwegian term for mineral pigs which would loosely be translated as “rockhound” and to the very dirty working conditions at the locality. Because of the deep snow the deposit can be worked only one or two months a year.1 The specimens show sharp blue-black steep bipyramidal anatase crystals, frequently doubly terminated, usually growing on well formed sharp transparent quartz crystals. Some of these anatase crystals are a deep blue if you hold them to a strong light. Most crystals are in the cm range, but fine crystals as large as 6 cm have been found, some of them on matrix. Many of the specimens from this locality are clusters of prismatic quartz crystals, lustrous and fairly transparent with cm size bipyramidal dark blue anatase crystals growing on them. On larger specimens the quartz crystals tend to be broken and the small anatase crystals tend to get lost against the overall aspect of the specimen. Two spectacular small matrix specimens from this locality with crystals of 2.5 and 6 cm each respectively are pictured in Rocks and Minerals Magazine, Nov/Dec 2002, p400-402. A good one of these will cost you over a thousand dollars and one of the best, perhaps $5000 or more (2009).
Near Gudbransdalen, “Valdres region.” “At Siegbert Zecha’s stand were a few mostly thumbnail specimens of a remarkable new anatase from Norway, not to be confused with the older “Hardangervidda” or “Matskorhae” anatase – pointed blue-black bipyramids to 1 cm at most. These older ones, scattered on sometimes immense quartz crystal groups…. The new crystals feature, by contrast, flat basil terminations on the bipyramids; the matrix where present is drusy albite; and, though as dark-looking at first glance as the older crystals, these are not really blue but red, with richly glinting rubous highlights. Most often the crystals come as loose singles to 2.5 cm long, but sometimes they form parallel groupings which are extremely bright and handsome. The best matrix-free thumbnails of this sort cost around $200. Apparently the largest crystal yet found, now in the Kongsberg Mining Museum, is r.8 cm long… . The locality is (no surprise) very vague. “Valdres region” appears on some labels, and the big one (mentioned above) displayed by the Kongsberg museum at the recent Tucson show is labeled as coming from “near Gudbransdalen.
Mineralogical Record, Vol. 20, 1989, p 483.
Some of the specimens with Valdres labels are in fact from Dyrfonni. It should be noted though, that this locality has been staked out as a claim , and according to Norwegian mining laws it is considered as a theft to collect at this site without permission from the holder of the claim. Even so, at the end of the 1990s several people collected here illegally more than 200 pieces of anatase specimens and sold it to mineral shows in USA and Germany. Some collectors have thus been legally prosecuted. Specimens of anatase from this locality have been erroneously labelled as coming from "Valdres", probably to avoid prosecution or to keep the locality a secret.
Quarry in operation. Minerals occurs in amygdales and small gas cavities in rhombic porphyry (RP2-lava)
Info needed.
The Zard mountains are the central area of the Raskoh mountains, west of Kharan. This seems to be the most detailed location name for the new Brookite and Anatase specimen sold under location Kharan.
Info needed.
Loacated 5km from Murun Massif; part of the Murun Alcaline Complex. Massive anatae-brookite-quartz ores with 40-60 mas.% TiO2 form here whole titanium deposit of industrial grade.
Many fine Anatase specimens have come out of the mines of Dodo and Lapcha. The Anatase crystals usually sit on Quartz (mostly smoky) and are accompanied by Brookite and other Ti minerals.
Complex Anatase crystals found in miarolitic pegmatites.
Extensive field of alpine-type veins in schist discovered in roadcuts during construction of the Adra-Motril highway.
Info needed.
Info needed.
Fine yellow to dark brown anatase crystals are also found at this locality in canton GraubĂĽnden. Many of these appeared at the Altdorf show in Switzerland in 1977. One dealer had a number of specimens for sale of this material with many specimens with crystals over 1 cm. One specimen displayed in a club case showed a crystal 2.5 cm in length even with one end of the crystal being broken off.1
Mineralogical Record, Vol.9, 1978 p79.
Info needed.
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in Tujetsch. One of the first written accounts about Anatase in Tujetsch can be found in Wiser (1841). he wrote about Anatase crystals up to 2,5 cm in length although normally the Anatase from Tujetsch don't exceed 0,5 cm. Among the best localities in Tujetsch for Anatase are Val Nalps, Val Curnera, Cavradi gorge and Druntobel although probably the best Tujetsch Anatase locality remains the area around the Sontga Brigida chapel.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Locality famous for orange Anatase crystals sprinkled on slender Rock Crystal.
The area around the St Gotthard pass. In a geological sense, the St Gotthard massif encompasses the area from the Nufenen pass (Novena pass) in the west to the southern side valleys of the Tujetsch (Tavetsch) in the east. Hence, many of the localities in the upper Wallis, in northern Ticino (on the north slopes of the Bedretto valley and in the valleys northeast of the upper Leventina), and in western Grischun are actually situated in the St Gotthard massif. Though, this is not explicitly noted, except in some locality descriptions.
Anatase crystals in excess of 2 cm have been found in the St Gotthard massif.
Info needed.
Good localities for Anatase can be found in the two upper Maggia valleys; Bavona valley and Lavizzara valley.
Many Anatase crystals can be found on the slopes of Mount Basòdino near Lago del Zött, in the region around Pizzo del Arzo and the Cavagnoli glaciers in the upper Bavona Valley. Colours range from yellow, brown, red to black. The Anatase crystals are accompanied by Rutile (often as Sagenite), Brookite, Apatite, Titanite and Hematite (often as Eisenrose). They can be found in-situ as well as in landslide material.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Info needed.
Some collectors feel that the best anatase specimens come from the older and more classical Swiss localities like the ones from the Binntal. Here crystals can be found up to about 5 cm that are amber or brown in color. Several different crystal habits are found here. There is a matrix specimen in the Museum of Natural History in Geneva that has rough brownish black crystal on it that measures 1.8 x 4.5 cm. Another somewhat rough brown crystal on matrix in the Smithsonian Institute in the Carl Bosch collection from Alp Lercheltini, Binntal, measures 3.5x5.0 cm, another one measuring over 4 cm is in the Geneva museum. Most collectors would like their crystals to be sharper than these, but these are perhaps the reigning monsters, so far as Anatase is concerned. Lärcheltini is a zone high up in the Binntal that can be subdivided in several localities famous for good Anatas finds: Gorb, Riggi, Kollergraben and Spissen. The last one is known for the very typical "Spissen-habit" Anatase and in the lower Kollergraben very nice long prismatic yellow Anatase have been found in recent years. Other localities for Anatase in the Binn valley are: Tälligletscher, Balmen, Bochtenhorn, Ofenhorn, Mittlenberg, Turbenalp, Fäldbachtal, Blausee area, Cherbadung and Fleschsee. An interesting recent discovery from the Binn valley is the find of Niobian Anatase. To get a great one from the Binntal is like trying to leap a tall building in a single bound but the occasional superman succeeds. I don’t think I have ever seen a great one for sale. It would certainly cost you several thousand dollars. Here are some spellings for this famous locality that have been put on labels over the years. (Binntal also Binn, Binntales, Binnatal, Binnental, Binnenthal).
Info needed.
Info needed.
Info needed.
Locality for some of the best Anatase crystals in the UK.
Brookite from this location was originally referred to as being from "near Snowdon" by Sowerby (1809), but this was later confirmed by Sowerby (1838) to be Prenteg. Also incorrectly called "Fonolen" by Greg and Lettsom (1858) and elsewhere described as "8 miles from Snowdon, between Beddgelert and Tremadoc".
A huge, active quarry situated on the contact of the Magnet Cove alkaline complex.
Info needed.
Muscovite deposits that outcrop on a small farm.
At Rib Mountain near the town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County is a zone of pegmatites that produces pockets of quartz etc. including black lustrous anatase crystals to 8 mm. These were produced mostly from one pocket. The average size is generally less than 0.5 mm.
Harjo Neutkens 2009 (first draft)
Anatase on Albite from Hardangervidda, Norway, Anatase crystals of 0,7 and 1,4 cm
If you want a fine specimen of Anatase in your collection you usually want one from the older localities in Switzerland or one from the newer ones from Norway. Which locality has produced better specimens? I prefer the ones from Switzerland, but also want a good one from Norway. There are many localities for Anatase and many localities produce beautiful sharp crystals that micromounters cherish. You could probably put together a collection of Anatase from over fifty localities if you tried. Most of the specimens would look rather nondescript and the Anatase crystals on them would be best appreciated under a microscope. Many micro sized crystals of Anatase are sharp, steeply bipyramidal and a translucent blue or brown in colour. Often they are growing on beautifully contrasting white quartz or Albite and make for striking specimens under the microscope.
Anatase is a commonly found in small quantities in alpine pockets where it can occur with its too other polymorphs. It is also found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and as a fine-grained alteration product of various titanium bearing minerals. The number of localities that produce fine large crystals is quite limited but the number of localities that produce good micro crystals is much larger.
Harjo Neutkens, 2010
Australia
South Australia, Mt Lofty Ranges, North Mt Lofty Ranges, Gulnare
6mm anatase crystal on quartz
Gulnare Anatase are not commonly seen or collected, but are amongst the best from Australia
Austria
Carinthia, Hohe Tauern Mts, Ankogel group, Ankogel area
Area famous for orange to red Anatase crystals, especially Grauleiten mountain hasdelivered some outstanding red Anatase. Brown to almost black Anatase crystals come from the Plattenkogel mountain.
This area includes the mountains located in close vicinity to Ankogel mountain (3246 m), which is the second highest elevation in the Ankogel group and one of the highest elevations in the Eastern Alps. Specimens coming from this area are often simply labelled 'Ankogel'. However, the latter actually refers to Ankogel mountain only.
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Gastein valley, Böckstein, Municipal quarry (Dick quarry)
Quarry (long abandoned) with mineralized clefts in a granite-gneiss, disseminated by aplite and pegmatite veins.
Located east of Böckstein.
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Habach valley, Gamseck Mt. area, Leffler Brunnen
In 2005 Harjo Neutkens discovered a very interesting and prolific Anatase locality near the Leffler source in the lower Habach valley. Several Quartz fissures in black Phylite (Schwarzphylit, a grey to black Schist) were encountered holding hundreds of Anatase accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Ilmenite, Apatite, Synchysite, Calcite, Aragonite, Adularia and Quartz crystals. Most of the Anatase crystals show a tabular habit and have an almost opaque black colour although blue Anatase crystals showing a double pyramidal habit have also been found in 2007. Two other noteworthy Anatase localities in the lower Habach valley close to the Leffler source are the Windbach and the Schönbach valleys, it is said that in the early 1900s or late 1800s an Anatase crystal has been found in the Schönbach area measuring 4 cm. Nowadays it is still quite easy to find nice blue Anatase in the Schönbach up to 0,5 cm in length. The best locality for Anatase in the upper Habach valley is the Teufelsmüle area, an area most famous for fantastic finds of electric green Sphene.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Obersulzbach valley, Hopffeld area, Hopffeldboden
Rocksled material, consisting mainly of aplitic gneisses with small miarolitic cavities hosting some rare minerals. many fine Anatase specimens have been found, most notoriously interestingly twinned Anatase crystals.
Salzburg, Hohe tauern Mts, Rauris valley, Grieswies
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Rauris valley, especially from the Grieswies area, a shallow slope on the eastern side of Grieswies-Schwarzkopf mountain, adjoined by steep cliffs to the west. These rocks contain numerous clefts, some of which reach very large dimensions. The Grieswies itself is composed of rocksled material, dating back to prehistoric times when a large part of the northeast slope of Hocharn mountain slipped off.
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie forest, Houthoofdt-Collette quarry
In 2005 very nice orange to red Anatase crystals up to 0,3 cm in length were discovered in a quarry south of the small provincial town of Bertrix by José Dehove and Harjo Neutkens. The Anatase crystals sit on Quartz and are accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Apatite, Albite, Fuchsite and Xenotyme-(Y).
Harjo Neutkens 2009
Brabant Province, Walhain, Nil-St Vincent-St Martin
Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals in excess of 1 cm were found there.
Brabant Province, Incourt, Opprebais
Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens were found there, the Anatase crystals could reach up to 1 cm in length.
Brazil
Northeast Region, Bahia, Paramirim
Mineralogical Record, 16 (2), 111-115
Info needed.
Southeast Region, Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais, Minas Novas. In 1986 Ed Swoboda came to Tucson with “a superb lot of large, bluish black anatase crystals on matrix from Minas Novas…The largest crystal measures nearly 3 cm; most are 1 cm or so. The habit is typically bipyramidal; the matrix is smoky quartz. About 25 really good specimens and a couple of flats of mediocre material comprised the find.”1 Also, probably found at the same locality “sleek blue-black bipyramids to 2.5 cm long on brown quartz crystal matrixes; a 3.5 x 3.5-cm matrix with 2+ cm anatase crystals sold for $220.”2 The author was talking about some specimens at the Ste. Marie-aux-Mines mineral show in France in 1988. The locality Lavrinha means only little mine in Portuguese and is probably little more than a small pit.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.17, 1986 p207. Mineralogical Record Vol.20 1989 p146.
Canada
Ontario, Wilberforce, Cardiff Mine
“Some of the titanite crystals from the Cardiff mine have been replaced by anatase resulting in light brown “leucoxene” pseudomorphs after titanite. Leucoxene is a discredited name, one that was given to a mixture of iron and titanium minerals.”1 George Robinson tells me via email that these pseudomorphs were found loose in the soil or in coarse calcite-syenite matrix. He says that he found crystals up to 7 cm, but the largest crystal was only a partial crystal and the most abundant associated minerals were allanite, pyroxene and microcline.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p80.
Photos needed
Ontario, Bancroft, Madawaska Mine property
Here “Fine crystals of ilmenite weighing more than 30kgs have been found associated with magnetite, biotite, microcline and apatite in a small calcite vein-dike…”1 Some of these crystals are replaced by anatase. These and the pseudomorphs are a little rough for the tastes of most collectors.
Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p76.
Photos needed.
Québec, Mégantic Co., St-Pierre-de-Broughton, Broughton Mine (Luzcan mine; Carrière rang XV)
Anatase, 1 cm crystal
This crystal measures approximately 1 cm long. It was collected by Mr Roseberry of Thetford Mines in an alpine type vein with brookite crystals
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen, Boehmen), Ústà Region, Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Krupka (Graupen), Steinknochen (Lux vein) area
Info needed.
France
Brittany, Morbihan, Grans-Champ, Poulmarc'h Quarry
Quarry in operation, just west of the junction of Pino. Recently analysis proved Röntgenite on some of the Anatase crystals.
Pierre le Roc'h, 2009
Brittany, Morbihan, Plumelin, La Lande quarry
Active quarry.
Midi-Pyrénées, Hautes-Pyrénées, Arrens-Marsous
Info needed.
Rhône-Alpes, Isère, Bourg d'Oisans, St Christophe-en-Oisans, Plan-du-Lac
Dumps from a roadcut.
St Christophe-en-Oisans is the type locality for Anatase.
Rhône-Alpes, Savoie, La Lauzière massif
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Lauzière massif, most notably at la Madelaine pass and Entre Deux Roches localities. Some crystal exceeded 4 cm in length. The Anatase found at Madelaine pass often show an elongated habit.
Germany
Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, Black Forest, Haslach, Steinach, Artenberg quarry
Operating gneiss quarry with mineralised calcite and quartz veins, as well as calcsilicate rocks. The quarry is known for nice flat tabular Anatase crystals. Access is strictly prohibited.
Bavaria, Franconia, Franconian Forest, Hof, Feilitzsch
Anatase FOV 0,6cm
Diabase Quarry known for some of the best Anatase specimens of Germany. The crystals range in colour from brown to blue and can reach up to 0,5 cm and a great variety of forms are encountered. The Anatase are often accompanied by Rutile, Titanite and nice Brookite crystals that can reach up to 1,5 cm.
Saarland, Merzig, Orscholz, Saarschleife
Outcrops of Taunus quartzite on the steep slopes above the "Saarschleife", a horseshoe bend of the river Saar.
Located about 1 km ESE of Orscholz (near Mettlach) and about 500 m NW of Dreisbach.
Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals up to 1 cm have been found accompanied by Brookite and Monazite (up to 0,8cm!)
Saxony, Vogtland, Oelsnitz
Near the provincial town of Oelsnitz Anatase can be found in an old quarry near the village of Bösenbrunn and on the dumps of a former mine near the village of Schönbrunn. The Anatase are quite small and rarely exceed 0,2 cm but they show atractive colours (yellow, orange, brown, black).
Italy
Aosta Valley, Courmayeur, Monte Bianco Massif (Mont Blanc Massif)
Anatase crystals occuring in Alpine type fissures. Notable localities for good Anatase crystals are the edges of the Brenva, Miage and Triolet glaciers as well as the Petite Mont Blanc mountain.
Aosta Valley, La Thuile
Info needed.
Emilia-Romagna, Bologna Province, Gaggio Montano, Ca' dei Ladri (Silla)
Area with cretaceous sedimentary rocks with hydrothermal veins that contain interesting minerals.
Info needed on specimens from this locality.
Liguria, Genova, Monte Bregaceto
Yellow anatase crystals to a few mm associated with platy orange brookite crystals that measure 2 cm in length and 1 cm in length on matrix.
The mineralized rock is represented by an Oligocenic sandstone. It is very much fractured and crossed by quartz and albite veins, which often host interesting minerals.
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley
Info needed.
Piedmont, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Formazza Valley
Info needed.
Piedmont, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Ossola Valley
Info needed.
Trento-Alto Adige, Bolzano Province (South Tyrol), Vizze valley (Pfitsch Valley
Info needed.
Madagascar
Antananarivo province, Vakinankaratra Region (Betafo - Antsirabé region), Betafo Department, Mahaiza Commune, Mahaiza
Mahaiza is a small town and a market place about 20 km west of the city Antsirabe and 10 km south of the city Betafo in the central highland of Madagascar. The town is easily accessible by car. Many minerals from numerous different localities, mostly south of Mahaiza -many as far away as 30-40km- are been brought here by local people for sale. Among the localities you'll f.ex. find the Tsaramanga (Itongafeno) pegmatite known for its beryl with the Tongafeno blue-colour and large good columbite xls. Or f.ex the Antsongombato gem mine, famous for its large londonite crystals. Minerals bought here in Mahaiza and which finds their way to foreign mineral collections are very often labeled just Mahaiza.
Norway
Hordaland, Hardangervidda National Park
Hordaland Fylke, Ullensvang Statsallmenning, Matskorhae. This locality has also been know as Hardangervidda (vidda=high plateau). Local collectors informally call it “Grisebingen” which means the pig pen. The name is a derogatory Norwegian term for mineral pigs which would loosely be translated as “rockhound” and to the very dirty working conditions at the locality. Because of the deep snow the deposit can be worked only one or two months a year.1 The specimens show sharp blue-black steep bipyramidal anatase crystals, frequently doubly terminated, usually growing on well formed sharp transparent quartz crystals. Some of these anatase crystals are a deep blue if you hold them to a strong light. Most crystals are in the cm range, but fine crystals as large as 6 cm have been found, some of them on matrix. Many of the specimens from this locality are clusters of prismatic quartz crystals, lustrous and fairly transparent with cm size bipyramidal dark blue anatase crystals growing on them. On larger specimens the quartz crystals tend to be broken and the small anatase crystals tend to get lost against the overall aspect of the specimen. Two spectacular small matrix specimens from this locality with crystals of 2.5 and 6 cm each respectively are pictured in Rocks and Minerals Magazine, Nov/Dec 2002, p400-402. A good one of these will cost you over a thousand dollars and one of the best, perhaps $5000 or more (2009).
Oppland, Valdres
Near Gudbransdalen, “Valdres region.” “At Siegbert Zecha’s stand were a few mostly thumbnail specimens of a remarkable new anatase from Norway, not to be confused with the older “Hardangervidda” or “Matskorhae” anatase – pointed blue-black bipyramids to 1 cm at most. These older ones, scattered on sometimes immense quartz crystal groups…. The new crystals feature, by contrast, flat basil terminations on the bipyramids; the matrix where present is drusy albite; and, though as dark-looking at first glance as the older crystals, these are not really blue but red, with richly glinting rubous highlights. Most often the crystals come as loose singles to 2.5 cm long, but sometimes they form parallel groupings which are extremely bright and handsome. The best matrix-free thumbnails of this sort cost around $200. Apparently the largest crystal yet found, now in the Kongsberg Mining Museum, is r.8 cm long… . The locality is (no surprise) very vague. “Valdres region” appears on some labels, and the big one (mentioned above) displayed by the Kongsberg museum at the recent Tucson show is labeled as coming from “near Gudbransdalen.
Mineralogical Record, Vol. 20, 1989, p 483.
Some of the specimens with Valdres labels are in fact from Dyrfonni. It should be noted though, that this locality has been staked out as a claim , and according to Norwegian mining laws it is considered as a theft to collect at this site without permission from the holder of the claim. Even so, at the end of the 1990s several people collected here illegally more than 200 pieces of anatase specimens and sold it to mineral shows in USA and Germany. Some collectors have thus been legally prosecuted. Specimens of anatase from this locality have been erroneously labelled as coming from "Valdres", probably to avoid prosecution or to keep the locality a secret.
Vestfold, Holmestrand, SolumsĂĄsen quarry
Quarry in operation. Minerals occurs in amygdales and small gas cavities in rhombic porphyry (RP2-lava)
Pakistan
Balochistan (Baluchistan), Dalbandin
2.4 x 2.2 cm
Info needed.
Balochistan (Baluchistan), Raskoh Mts., Zard Mts
The Zard mountains are the central area of the Raskoh mountains, west of Kharan. This seems to be the most detailed location name for the new Brookite and Anatase specimen sold under location Kharan.
Northern Areas, Gilgit District
Info needed.
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Aldan Shield, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Murunskii Massif, Kedrovyi alkaline Massif
Anatase crystal, 1,9x1,5cm
Loacated 5km from Murun Massif; part of the Murun Alcaline Complex. Massive anatae-brookite-quartz ores with 40-60 mas.% TiO2 form here whole titanium deposit of industrial grade.
Western-Siberian Region, Polar Urals, Tyumenskaya Oblast'
Many fine Anatase specimens have come out of the mines of Dodo and Lapcha. The Anatase crystals usually sit on Quartz (mostly smoky) and are accompanied by Brookite and other Ti minerals.
Far-Eastern Region, Khabarovkiy Kray, Aldan Province, Udacha pegmatite field
Complex Anatase crystals found in miarolitic pegmatites.
Spain
Andalusia, AlmerĂa, Adra, Adra-Motril highway
Extensive field of alpine-type veins in schist discovered in roadcuts during construction of the Adra-Motril highway.
Catalonia, Lleida (LĂ©rida), Pallars SobirĂ , Espot
Anatase FOV 0,8cm
Info needed.
Castile and Leon, LeĂłn, Santiago Millas, Del Moro Quarry
Info needed.
Switzerland
Grischun (Grisons; GraubĂĽnden), Hinterrhein Valley, Domleschg, Thusis, Crapteig
Fine yellow to dark brown anatase crystals are also found at this locality in canton GraubĂĽnden. Many of these appeared at the Altdorf show in Switzerland in 1977. One dealer had a number of specimens for sale of this material with many specimens with crystals over 1 cm. One specimen displayed in a club case showed a crystal 2.5 cm in length even with one end of the crystal being broken off.1
Mineralogical Record, Vol.9, 1978 p79.
Info needed.
Grischun (Grisons; GraubĂĽnden), Vorderrhein Valley, Tujetsch (Tavetsch)
Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in Tujetsch. One of the first written accounts about Anatase in Tujetsch can be found in Wiser (1841). he wrote about Anatase crystals up to 2,5 cm in length although normally the Anatase from Tujetsch don't exceed 0,5 cm. Among the best localities in Tujetsch for Anatase are Val Nalps, Val Curnera, Cavradi gorge and Druntobel although probably the best Tujetsch Anatase locality remains the area around the Sontga Brigida chapel.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Ticino (Tessin), Levantina, Bedretto valley, Valleggia Valley, Valleggia Glacier
Locality famous for orange Anatase crystals sprinkled on slender Rock Crystal.
Ticino (Tessin), Levantina, Central St Gotthard Massif
The area around the St Gotthard pass. In a geological sense, the St Gotthard massif encompasses the area from the Nufenen pass (Novena pass) in the west to the southern side valleys of the Tujetsch (Tavetsch) in the east. Hence, many of the localities in the upper Wallis, in northern Ticino (on the north slopes of the Bedretto valley and in the valleys northeast of the upper Leventina), and in western Grischun are actually situated in the St Gotthard massif. Though, this is not explicitly noted, except in some locality descriptions.
Anatase crystals in excess of 2 cm have been found in the St Gotthard massif.
Ticino (Tessin), Levantina, Piora Valley, Pizzo Taneda
Info needed.
Ticino (Tessin), Maggia valley
Good localities for Anatase can be found in the two upper Maggia valleys; Bavona valley and Lavizzara valley.
Many Anatase crystals can be found on the slopes of Mount Basòdino near Lago del Zött, in the region around Pizzo del Arzo and the Cavagnoli glaciers in the upper Bavona Valley. Colours range from yellow, brown, red to black. The Anatase crystals are accompanied by Rutile (often as Sagenite), Brookite, Apatite, Titanite and Hematite (often as Eisenrose). They can be found in-situ as well as in landslide material.
Harjo Neutkens, 2009
Uri, Urseren, Realp
Info needed.
Wallis (Valais), Binn Valley
Some collectors feel that the best anatase specimens come from the older and more classical Swiss localities like the ones from the Binntal. Here crystals can be found up to about 5 cm that are amber or brown in color. Several different crystal habits are found here. There is a matrix specimen in the Museum of Natural History in Geneva that has rough brownish black crystal on it that measures 1.8 x 4.5 cm. Another somewhat rough brown crystal on matrix in the Smithsonian Institute in the Carl Bosch collection from Alp Lercheltini, Binntal, measures 3.5x5.0 cm, another one measuring over 4 cm is in the Geneva museum. Most collectors would like their crystals to be sharper than these, but these are perhaps the reigning monsters, so far as Anatase is concerned. Lärcheltini is a zone high up in the Binntal that can be subdivided in several localities famous for good Anatas finds: Gorb, Riggi, Kollergraben and Spissen. The last one is known for the very typical "Spissen-habit" Anatase and in the lower Kollergraben very nice long prismatic yellow Anatase have been found in recent years. Other localities for Anatase in the Binn valley are: Tälligletscher, Balmen, Bochtenhorn, Ofenhorn, Mittlenberg, Turbenalp, Fäldbachtal, Blausee area, Cherbadung and Fleschsee. An interesting recent discovery from the Binn valley is the find of Niobian Anatase. To get a great one from the Binntal is like trying to leap a tall building in a single bound but the occasional superman succeeds. I don’t think I have ever seen a great one for sale. It would certainly cost you several thousand dollars. Here are some spellings for this famous locality that have been put on labels over the years. (Binntal also Binn, Binntales, Binnatal, Binnental, Binnenthal).
Wallis (Valais), Goms, Furka pass area
Info needed.
United Kingdom
England, Cornwall, Mount's Bay District, Porthleven, Wheal Penrose
Info needed.
Wales, Denbighshire (Clwyd), Glyn Ceiriog, Hendre Quarry
Info needed.
Wales, Gwynedd (Caernarvonshire), Prenteg, Fron Olau, Twll Maen Grisial
Locality for some of the best Anatase crystals in the UK.
Brookite from this location was originally referred to as being from "near Snowdon" by Sowerby (1809), but this was later confirmed by Sowerby (1838) to be Prenteg. Also incorrectly called "Fonolen" by Greg and Lettsom (1858) and elsewhere described as "8 miles from Snowdon, between Beddgelert and Tremadoc".
USA
Arkansas, Hot Spring Co., Magnet Cove, Jones Mill (Martin Marietta) Quarry (Highway 51 Quarry; Mid-State Quarry)
A huge, active quarry situated on the contact of the Magnet Cove alkaline complex.
California, Mono Co., White Mts.
Info needed.
New Hampshire, Hillsborough Co.,Nashua, Mine Falls Park
S. Whittemore (1990) Recent Mineral Discoveries at Mine Falls Park, Nashua, Hillsborough County, New Haqmpshire. Rocks & Minerals 65:432-437
North Carolina, Cleveland Co., Lattimore, Yates Brooks Farm
Muscovite deposits that outcrop on a small farm.
Wisconsin
At Rib Mountain near the town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County is a zone of pegmatites that produces pockets of quartz etc. including black lustrous anatase crystals to 8 mm. These were produced mostly from one pocket. The average size is generally less than 0.5 mm.
Harjo Neutkens 2009 (first draft)
Article has been viewed at least 1785 times.
Discuss this Article
Hi, Harjo -
http://www.mindat.org/photo-276540.html
I see above that you are looking for a sample of anatase replacing titanite - this piece is from the Bear Lake Diggings near Gooderham. Bill Plavic kindly gave us a piece for our thumbnail collection.
it certainly is the runt of the litter, looks-wise!
Maggie
http://www.mindat.org/photo-276540.html
I see above that you are looking for a sample of anatase replacing titanite - this piece is from the Bear Lake Diggings near Gooderham. Bill Plavic kindly gave us a piece for our thumbnail collection.
it certainly is the runt of the litter, looks-wise!
Maggie
