Mineralpedia Details for Anatase

Named in reference to the length of the pyramidal faces of the mineral as being longer in relation to the base in comparison to other tetragonal minerals, after the Greek word anatasis, meaning “uplift,” or in some translations, “extension.” Anatase is relatively common and widespread and can be found in localities in Switzerland, France, Norway, Russia, England, Wales, Brazil, the United States, and Canada, among several others. Anatase is usually a secondary mineral that has been derived from other titanium minerals, but can also be found in Alpine veins derived from hydrothermal solutions, in igneous an metamorphic rocks, pegmatites, carbonatites, and commonly as a detrital mineral.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/anatase.pdf

Formula

TiO₂ 

Crystal System

Tetragonal 

Crystal Habit

Pyramidal, Tabular 

Cleavage

Perfect, Distinct, None 

Luster

Adamantine - Resinous 

Color

black, reddish brown, yellowish brown, dark blue, gray 

Streak

pale yellowish white 

Class

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal 

Fracture

Conchoidal 

Hardness

5.5-6 

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Mindat

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Well formed, striated, translucent brown Anatase crystal 5mm on Quartz matrix.

Sharp black, lustrous crystals to 1.5mm.

BLUE Anatase crystal cluster to 4mm. Excellent, euhedral crystals with good blue transparency.

3mm Crystal on Quartz

A gemmy, odd-shaped, thick tabular, reddish brown, lustrous Anatase single crystal. 

Several blue, very nice Anatase crystals on this specimen of mica schist and Quartz. The largest crystal is 5mm but most are 1 to 2mm. 

Sharply pointed cluster of deep blue lustrous Anatase crystals.