Welcome to SuchenGems!

Sphene, also known as titanite, is a rare calcium titanium silicate mineral prized for its exceptional brilliance and "fire". It's characterized by its high dispersion, meaning it can break white light into spectral colors even more effectively than a diamond, creating a vibrant play of light and color. Sphene typically displays a range of colors, including yellow, green, orange, brown, and sometimes pink, red, or even black.

Here's a more detailed description:

Physical Properties:

• Composition: Calcium titanium silicate (CaTiSiO5).

• Hardness: 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft and suitable for jewelry like pendants and earrings but less ideal for rings.

• Dispersion: High, exceeding that of a diamond, leading to intense "fire" and a rainbow-like sparkle.

• Luster: Resinous to sub-adamantine.

• Transparency: Transparent to translucent, sometimes opaque.

• Crystal Structure: Monoclinic.

• Color: Yellow, green, orange, brown, pink, red, black, or colorless.

• Pleochroism: Moderate to strong in transparent stones, with colors shifting depending on the stone's base color.

• Cleavage: Fair to good.

• Fracture: Conchoidal.

• Streak: Reddish-white, pink, or white.

• Common inclusions: Sphene often contains inclusions, which can add to its beauty and light dispersion.

Other Characteristics:

• High Fire:

  Sphene is known for its intense fire, which is the visual effect of light dispersion within the stone.

• Color Change:

  Some sphene specimens, particularly those containing vanadium, can exhibit color change under different lighting conditions.

• Metamictization:

  Some sphene can become metamict (amorphous) due to the presence of radioactive materials like cerium.

• Mining:

  Sphene is found in various locations worldwide, including Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, the USA, Canada, Brazil, and Madagascar.

• Rarity:

  While found in many places, gem-quality sphene suitable for jewelry is relatively rare.

• Use in Jewelry:

  Sphene is often used in pendants and earrings due to its softness, but its brilliance and fire make it a sought-after stone for collectors.