Identification guide · Silicate Minerals
How to Identify Titanite
Titanite is usually green, yellow, and brown with a adamantine luster and is transparent. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Epidote, Quartz, and Sillimanite; the tests below separate them.
Titanite identification checklist
| Color | Green, Yellow, Brown, Black | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Adamantine | Fresh surfaces shine like glass; a dull surface usually means weathering, so chip or wet a corner. |
| Transparency | Transparent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 5.5 | It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Distinct | |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 3.5 | Heavier than it looks (specific gravity about 3.5). |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Titanite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Epidote is harder (Mohs 6–7) than Titanite (Mohs 5.5), so Epidote will scratch Titanite and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Titanite vs Epidote →
Quartz is harder (Mohs 7) than Titanite (Mohs 5.5), so Quartz will scratch Titanite and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Titanite vs Quartz →
Sillimanite is harder (Mohs 7) than Titanite (Mohs 5.5), so Sillimanite will scratch Titanite and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Titanite vs Sillimanite →
Jadeite is harder (Mohs 6.75) than Titanite (Mohs 5.5), so Jadeite will scratch Titanite and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
Field tips
- Look for wedge-shaped or flattened crystals with a bright adamantine to resinous luster.
- Strong dispersion and pleochroism in transparent material help distinguish titanite from similar minerals.
- Moderate hardness near 5.5 and a single distinct cleavage direction support identification.
Titanite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Titanite?
Check the color (green, yellow, brown, and black), the adamantine luster, a Mohs hardness of 5.5 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Titanite?
Titanite has a Mohs hardness of 5.5. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
What is the difference between Titanite and Epidote?
Titanite (Mohs 5.5, adamantine luster) and Epidote (Mohs 6–7, vitreous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Titanite vs Epidote comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Titanite worth anything?
Entry-level Titanite specimens sell for around $15, typical collector pieces about $90, and premium examples $600 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Titanite?
Titanite is most often green, yellow, brown, and black. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
