Titanite

Titanite (formerly called sphene) is a mineral made of calcium, titanium, silicon and oxygen (CaTiSiO₅). The name sphene comes from the Greek sphen, “wedge”, and describes the wedge shape of its crystals. It occurs in green, yellow, brown and red shades; because it splits light into colours very strongly, a cut stone throws out more coloured flashes than a diamond. Its low hardness makes it a collector’s stone rather than a jewel for everyday wear.

Jewellery and collecting: Cut titanite is very bright and throws coloured flashes, but because it is soft and brittle it has limited use in jewellery. It needs a protective setting and careful wear; rough crystals are among the specimens collectors seek. Geology: It is used to date metamorphic rocks by the uranium-lead method. Titanium: Although it contains titanium, MTA lists titanite among the less common titanium minerals of no economic value; for titanium, ilmenite and rutile are mined (see ilmenite and rutile).

It has a hardness of 5–5.5 on the Mohs scale. A fingernail cannot scratch it, but a steel knife can. Its specific gravity is 3.48–3.6 g/cm³.

Its best-known localities: St. Gotthard, Ticino, Switzerland; Arendal, Agder, Norway; Haramosh Mountains (Tormiq Valley), Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan; Tavetsch (Tujetsch), Graubünden, Switzerland; Zillertal, Tyrol, Austria.

Crystals are often wedge-shaped, which is where the old name comes from. Some are flat, others short prisms. It has a lustre between diamond-like and resinous and strong pleochroism: as you turn the stone, the colour shifts from colourless to yellow-green and from red to orange. Its hardness is 5–5.5 and its specific gravity about 3.5–3.6: a steel knife can scratch it. It has good cleavage in one direction. Yellow-green sphene can be confused with stones such as chrysoberyl, golden beryl, topaz and zircon. What sets sphene apart is its very strong fire and low hardness; a sure identification needs gemmological testing.

On the “street to diamond” value ladder it sits on step 6 of nine: Fine ornamental and collector stone. Titanite’s value depends on its colour (green-yellow shades are the most sought after, browns less so), clarity, how well the cut disperses light, size and freedom from damage. Clean, large stones are scarce, and because the mineral is soft and prone to cleaving it is hard to cut. Sphene is generally untreated, but heating is reported to turn the colour red or orange, so it is worth asking whether the colour is natural. For rough crystals, form, colour, freedom from damage and well-known localities such as Pakistan or the Swiss Alps count.

Crystal-therapy websites claim that sphene calms, increases mental clarity and creativity, protects against negative “energy” and is linked to the “third-eye chakra”. The same websites claim that sphene reduces fever, muscle strain and tissue inflammation and supports the immune system. There is no scientific evidence that sphene calms, clears the mind, or reduces fever, muscle strain or inflammation; “chakra” and “energy” claims cannot be measured. If fever, muscle pain or inflammation persists, a doctor should be consulted. This section reports beliefs; it is not health information. There is no scientific evidence for these claims and no stone replaces medical treatment.