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  • Sphene

Sphene

Titanite

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: December 2021
Sphene Polished Sphene Rough
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Sphene Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • Care

Sphene, better known to mineralogists as titanite, is a spectacular gemstone prized by collectors for its diamond-like luster and high dispersion. The name sphene is derived from a Greek rook meaning wedge for the shape of its crystals. The color can range from yellow to red, brown, brownish, or yellowish green to green, and black. Sphene has a high birefringence and shows doubling of facet junctions.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Sphene
Species
Titanite
Transparency
Opaque-Translucent
Dispersion
Strength: Strong Fire Value: 0.051
Refractive Index
Over The Limit 1.843-2.110 Tolerance: (+0.020/-0.020)
Birefringence
0.100- 0.160
Optic Character
Biaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Polariscope Reaction
Doubly Refractive (DR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert to weak brown
LWUV: Inert
Pleochroism
Trichroic, (in green gems) strong greenish yellow, yellow to brown, and colorless; (in brown gems) strong yellow, reddish-orange, and brownish yellow and brownish orange, (in yellow gems) moderate to strong greenish yellow, brownish-orange, and colorless
Hardness
5-5.5
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
3.600-3.480 Typical:3.520
Toughness
Fair
Inclusions
Sphene occasionally contains tiny crystals that align in straight rows or "feathers", natural inclusions, actinolite needles. Twinning is common. Stones have strong dispersion and eye-visible doubling.
Luster
SubAdamantine, Resinous, Adamantine
Fracture
Conchoidal, Subconchoidal, Splintery
Cleavage
Good, in one direction
Chemical Name
calcium titanium silicate
Chemical Formula
CaTiSiO5
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Sphene Colors

  • Yellow Sphene
    Yellow
  • Orange Sphene
    Orange
  • Multi-color Sphene
    Multi-color
  • Brown Sphene
    Brown
  • Black Sphene
    Black
  • Gray Sphene
    Gray
  • Colorless Sphene
    Colorless
  • Green Sphene
    Green

Alternate Names

Titanite, Chrome Sphene

Countries of Origin

United Arab Emirates (the); United States of America (the); Viet Nam; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Zimbabwe; Zambia; Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)

Care

Sphene is a soft stone, so be mindful of scratching.

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