Ontario, Canada; Sanford, Maine, Gouverneur, Diana, Rossie, Fine, Pitcairn, Brewster, New York and California in the US. Uses Titanite is a source of titanium dioxide, TiO2, used in pigments. As a gemstone, titanite is usually some shade of chartreuse, but can be brown or black. Hue depends on iron (Fe) content, with low Fe content causing green and yellow colours, and high Fe content causing brown or black hues. Zoning is typical in titanite. It is prized for its exceptional dispersive power (0.051, B to G interval) which exceeds that of diamond. Jewelry use of titanite is limited, both because the stone is uncommon in gem quality and is relatively soft. Titanite can also be used as a U-Pb geochronometer, specifically in metamorphic terranes. Image gallery References External links Madagascar Sphene Properties, Occurrences and Geological data Monoclinic minerals Minerals in space group 14 Gemstones Calcium minerals Titanium minerals Nesosilicates