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Titanite

Big Photo

Caspar quarry, Bellerberg volcano, Ettringen, Mayen, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
CaTi[O|SiO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, brown, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, ResinousHardness:5 - 5½
Name:The name reflects its titanium content.
Isostructural with:Durangite, Tilasite


Titanite Group. The titanium analogue of Malayaite.

Forms a series with Malayaite.

Also known as Sphene, this calcium titanium silicate forms flattened wedge-shaped crystals, commonly twinned with prominent re-entry angles; massive, compact and lamellar forms are also found. It occurs as an accessory mineral in igneous rocks; in schists, gneisses and other metamorphic rocks, and is also found as a detrital mineral in some sedimentary deposits.

Classification of Titanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AG.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
G : Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in > [6] +- [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:52.4.3.1

52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [6] and/or >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.9.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
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Type Occurrence of Titanite

Type Locality:Titanite occurrence, Hauzenberg, Bavarian Forest, Lower Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany
Year of Discovery:1795
Associated Minerals at type locality:
QuartzMica GroupHornblendeFeldspar Group

Occurrences of Titanite

Geological Setting:Common accessory mineral in intermediate and felsic plutonic rocks, pegmatites, alpine veins. Also in some gneisses, schists and skarns.

Physical Properties of Titanite

Lustre:Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, brown, green, yellow, rose-red or black.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {110}
Parting:Due to twinning on {221}
Density (measured):3.48 - 3.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Titanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.057Å, b = 8.707Å, c = 6.555Å
β = 113.81°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.81 : 1 : 0.753
Unit Cell Volume:V 368.49 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals are wedge shaped, compact, massive.
Twinning:On {100}, contact and penetration, less commonly lamellar on {221}
Comment:May be metamict
Crystal Atlas:
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Titanite no.31 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Titanite no.203 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Titanite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.843 - 1.950 nβ = 1.870 - 2.034 nγ = 1.943 - 2.110
2V:Measured: 17° to 40°, Calculated: 68° to 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.100 - 0.160

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v extreme
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= nearly colorless
Y= yellow to green
Z= red to yellow orange

Chemical Properties of Titanite

Formula:
CaTi[O|SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Ca, O, Si, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Ca, O, Si, Ti
Common Impurities:Fe,Y,Mn,Al,Ce,Sr,Na,Nb,Ta,Al,Mg,V,F,Zr,Sn

Relationship of Titanite to other Species

Related to:
  • Titanite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    9.AG.05Abswurmbachite
    CuMn
    3+
    6
    		O
     
    8
    		(SiO
     
    4
    		)
    9.AG.05Braunite
    Mn
    2+
     
    		Mn
    3+
    6
    		[O
     
    8
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.05Neltnerite
    CaMn
    3+
    6
    		[O
     
    8
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.05Braunite-II
    CaMn
    3+
    14
    		SiO
     
    24
    9.AG.10Långbanite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Ca)
     
    4
    		(Mn
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    9
    		Sb
    5+
     
    		[O
     
    8
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    9.AG.15Malayaite
    CaSn[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.15Vanadomalayaite
    CaV
    4+
     
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.20Cerite-(Ce)
    (Ce,Ca)
     
    9
    		(Fe,Mg)(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		[SiO
     
    3
    		(OH)]
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    3
    9.AG.20Cerite-(La)
    (La,Ce,Ca)
     
    9
    		(Fe,Ca,Mg)(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		[SiO
     
    3
    		(OH)]
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    3
    9.AG.20Aluminocerite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Ca)
     
    9
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		[SiO
     
    3
    		(OH)]
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    3
    9.AG.25Trimounsite-(Y)
    Y
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O
     
    5
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.25Yftisite-(Y)
    (Y,Dy,Er)
     
    4
    		(Ti,Sn)O(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(F,OH)
     
    6
    9.AG.30Sitinakite
    KNa
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    4
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    13
    		(OH)·2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.AG.35Kittatinnyite
    Ca
     
    2
    		Mn
     
    2
    		Mn(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    4
    		·9H
     
    2
    		O
    9.AG.40aNatisite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ti[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.40bParanatisite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ti[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.45Törnebohmite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La)
     
    2
    		Al(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		OH
    9.AG.45Törnebohmite-(La)
    (La,Ce)
     
    2
    		Al(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		OH
    9.AG.50Kuliokite-(Y)
    Y
     
    4
    		Al(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		F
     
    5
    9.AG.55Chantalite
    CaAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.60Mozartite
    CaMn
    3+
     
    		[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.60Vuagnatite
    CaAl[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.65Hatrurite
    Ca
     
    3
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.70Jasmundite
    Ca
     
    11
    		[O
     
    2
    		|S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		]
    9.AG.75Afwillite
    Ca
     
    3
    		[HSiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.AG.80Bultfonteinite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[F|HSiO
     
    4
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    9.AG.85Zoltaiite
    BaV
    4+
    2
    		V
    3+
    12
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    27
    9.AG.90Tranquillityite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Ca)
     
    8
    		(Zr,Y)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    3
    		[O
     
    4
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    14.9.1Natisite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ti[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    14.9.2Lorenzenite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    14.9.3Lintisite
    LiNa
     
    3
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.4Davanite
    K
     
    2
    		TiSi
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    14.9.5Kazakovite
    Na
     
    6
    		Ti[Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    16
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		]
    14.9.7Ohmilite
    Sr
     
    3
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[(O,OH)|(Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 2-3H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.8Lamprophyllite
    (Sr,K,Ba)
     
    2
    		(Na,Ti,Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    4
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O|(O,OH,F)|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
     
    2
    14.9.9Benitoite
    BaTi[Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
    14.9.10Batisite
    Na
     
    2
    		BaTi
     
    2
    		[O|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
     
    2
    14.9.11Fresnoite
    Ba
     
    2
    		Ti[O|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    14.9.12Joaquinite-(Ce)
    Ba
     
    2
    		NaCe
     
    2
    		FeTi
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(OH,F) · H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.13Orthojoaquinite-(Ce)
    Ba
     
    2
    		NaCe
     
    2
    		FeTi
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(O,OH) · H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.14Strontiojoaquinite
    Sr
     
    2
    		Ba
     
    2
    		(Na,Fe)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		(O,OH)
     
    2
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.15Bario-orthojoaquinite
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    4
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.16Strontio-orthojoaquinite
    Sr
     
    2
    		Ba
     
    2
    		(Na,Fe)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		(O,OH)
     
    2
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.17Bafertisite
    Ba(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti[O|(O,OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    14.9.18Hejtmanite
    Ba(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti[O|(OH,F)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    14.9.19Delindeite
    (Na,K)
     
    2.7
    		(Ba,Ca)
     
    4
    		(Ti,Fe,Al)
     
    6
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(OH)
     
    14
    14.9.20Barytolamprophyllite
    (Ba,Na)
     
    2
    		(Na,Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    4
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O|(OH,F)|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
     
    2
    14.9.21Trimounsite-(Y)
    Y
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O
     
    5
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    14.9.22Perrierite-(Ce)
    (Ce,Ca,Th)
     
    4
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[O
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
     
    2
    14.9.23Chevkinite
    (Ca,Ce,Th)
     
    4
    		(Fe,Mn)
     
    2
    		(Ti,Fe)
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    22
    14.9.24Strontiochevkinite
    (Sr,La,Ce,Ca)
     
    4
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		(Ti,Zr)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[O
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
     
    2
    14.9.25Tisinalite
    Na
     
    3
    		H
     
    3
    		(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi
     
    6
    		(O,OH)
     
    18
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    14.9.26Neptunite
    Na
     
    2
    		KLi(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    14.9.27Manganoneptunite
    Na
     
    2
    		KLi(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    14.9.28Kupletskite
    (K,Na)
     
    3
    		(Mn,Fe)
     
    7
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(OH)
     
    4
    		F
    14.9.29Astrophyllite
    (K,Na)
     
    3
    		(Fe,Mn)
     
    7
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		(O,OH)
     
    7
    14.9.30Hydroastrophyllite
    (H
     
    3
    		O,K,Ca)
     
    3
    		(Fe,Mn)
     
    5-65
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		(O,OH)
     
    31
    14.9.31Magnesioastrophyllite
    (Na,K)
     
    4
    		Mg
     
    2
    		(Fe,Fe,Mn)
     
    5
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		(O,OH,F)
     
    7
    14.9.32Baratovite
    KCa
     
    7
    		(Ti,Zr)
     
    2
    		Li
     
    3
    		Si
     
    12
    		O
     
    36
    		F
     
    2
    14.9.34Aenigmatite
    Na
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
    5
    		TiO
     
    2
    		]Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    14.9.35Schorlomite
    Ca
     
    3
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[(Si,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)O
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    14.9.36Tinaksite
    K
     
    2
    		Na(Ca,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti[O|Si
     
    7
    		O
     
    18
    		(OH)]
    14.9.37Janhaugite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    3
    		(Mn,Fe)
     
    3
    		(Ti,Zr,Nb)
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH,F,O)
     
    3
    14.9.38Koashvite
    Na
     
    6
    		(Ca,Mn)(Ti,Fe)Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		·H
     
    2
    		O

    Other Names for Titanite

    Synonyms:
    AspideliteCastelliteLederite (of Shepard)LiguriteMenakerz
    SphenSpheneTitanite (of Klaproth)
    Other Languages:
    Croatian:Titanit
    Czech:Titanit
    Dutch:Titaniet
    Estonian:Titaniit
    French:Titanite
    German:Titanit
    Aspidelit
    Braunmenakerz
    Gelbmenakerz
    Ligurit
    Semelin
    Spinellin
    Hebrew:טיטניט
    Hungarian:Titanit
    Italian:Titanite
    Japanese:チタン石
    くさび石
    Polish:Tytanit
    Portuguese:Titanita
    Romanian:Titanit
    Russian:Титанит
    Slovak:Titanit
    Slovenian:Titanit
    Spanish:Titanita
    Aspidelita
    Ligurita
    Swedish:Titanit
    Varieties:
    Eucolite-TitaniteGreenoviteGrothiteKeilhauiteStanniferous Titanite
    Yttrian Titanite

    Other Information

    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Titanite

    Reference List:Klaproth M.H. (1795): Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntnis der Mineralkörper, Teil 1, XV. Untersuchung eines neuen Fossils (Titanit) aus dem Passauischen, 245-252, Rottmann Berlin

    Jaffe, H.W. (1947), Re-examination of sphene, American Mineralogist: 32: 637-642.

    Speer, J.A. & Gibbs, G.V. (1976): The crystal structure of the synthetic titanite CaOTiOSiO4, and the domain textures of natural titanites. Am. Mineral., 61, 238-247.

    Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1984): 251-256.

    European Journal of Mineralogy (1992): 4: 307.

    Urusov, V.S., Eremin, N.N., Yakubovich, O.V. (1995): Electron-density distribution in Ca{TiO[SiO4]} titanite. Crystallogr. Reports, 40, 442-448.

    Hammer, V.M.F., Beran, A., Endisch, D., and Rauch, F. (1996) OH concentrations in natural titanites determined by FTIR spectroscopy and nuclear reaction aalysis. European Journal of Mineralogy: 8: 281-288.

    Della Ventura, G., Bellatreccia, F., and Williams, C.T. (1999) Zr- and LREE-rich titanite from Tre Croci, Vico Volcanic complex (Latium, Italy). Mineralogical Magazine: 63: 123-130.

    Jonckheere, R. and Wagner, G. (2000) On the occurrence of anomalous fission tracks in apatite and titanite. American Mineralogist: 85: 1744-1753.

    Articles/Blogs about Titanite

    Article entries:
    The Huonville Sphene PitTrevor Dart

    Internet Links for Titanite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Titanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Titanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Titanite

    Show Locality List (2757 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.