Anatase
Image: Robert M. Lavinsky (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAnatase
Chemical FormulaTiO2
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemtetragonal
Lusteradamantine
Streak Colorwhite to pale yellow
Cleavageperfect on {001} and {111}
Fracturesubconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.8
Colorsbrown, yellow, blue, black, reddish-brown, violet
Transparencytransparent to opaque
Type LocalityHardangervidda, Hordaland, Norway
Mineral GroupOxides
Usesminor ore of titanium, pigment, photocatalyst, collector
Associated Mineralsalbite, quartz, feldspar, rutile, brookite
Rarityuncommon
Description
The image displays sharp, dark, lustrous tetragonal crystals of anatase, likely black or dark brown, contrasting against a lighter matrix identified as albite.
Geological Context
Anatase is a low-temperature polymorph of titanium dioxide, typically forming in igneous and metamorphic rocks, often in hydrothermal veins or as an alteration product of other titanium minerals.
