SPHENE/ TITANITE GEMSTONE
SPHENE/ TITANITE GEMSTONE
Minerals with a true adamantine luster are rare.
Adamantine means "like diamond" and refers to gemstones with high brilliance and intense fire. Besides diamond and the rare demantoid garnet, one other gem known as sphene not only rivals the luster of diamonds, but its fire spectacularly exceeds that of diamonds.
Sphene comes from the Greek SPHENOS meaning Wedge as the form of the crystals in Sphene are wedge-shaped. It is also named as Titanite which derives from the fact that it is an ore of titanium.
Titanium was discovered by the same person who had discovered uranium, which was named after Uranus meaning "Heaven" in Greek mythology. When he came upon another new element, he decided to call it titanium, after the Titans meaning "sons of the Earth".
Sphene is translucent to transparent. It frequently comes in yellow, orange and green hues, with various shades between them. It can also occur colorless, red, blue, black and brown.
Chrome sphene which is deep intense green like fine emerald is the most valuable type. It is very rare and its color is due to the element chromium.
The lighter tones of yellows, light oranges and greens, which best show off the gemstone’s amazing dispersion are preferred in gemology.
Sphene is justifiably a magical and enchanting stone. It has one of the highest dispersions of any mineral, much more than diamond. Dispersion refers to a mineral’s ability to break white light into spectral colors. This gives it an intense fire.
Sphene also has a high birefringence that results from double refraction which gives it a "fuzziness" within the stone similar to that often seen in zircon or peridot.
It is also pleochroic, showing more than one color depending on the angle from which you view it. Transparent specimens are trichroic showing three different colors.
Some rare specimens that contain a chemical element vanadium display a color change effect. These stones are found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Vanadium-bearing sphenes have shown green to yellow-green in daylight but brownish orange to brown under incandescent light. Another specimen has shown a brownish, yellowish green in daylight but orangey yellow under incandescent light.
Sphene usually comes with inclusions, the clean pieces are rare and highly valued.
Although softer than many more popular gems at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, sphenes can make wonderful jewelry stones if set and maintained properly.
Sphene has been known since 1787. In 1795 it was named Titanite by Martin Klaproth. However in 1801 Rene Just Hauy, a French mineralogist, changed the name Titanite to Sphene. But in 1982 the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN) disagreed and maintained the name to be the former Titanite. Nonetheless, though both names are recognized by mineralogists, it is Sphene that is frequently used.
It is believed that Sphene can protect the wearer from negative energy. It helps in clear thinking and creativity. It relieves fever, tissue inflammation and ease muscle strain.
Sphene aids the wearer in processing information, as well as in all aspects of improving the mind.
Sphene deposits are found in Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Austria, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and in the United States.
As Sphene is a relatively soft stone, utmost care has to be taken to prevent damage from impacts, scratches, heat, and acids (including sweat).
It should be stored away from other jewelry and kept in dust covers. Dust contains quartz and minerals from outer space. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that wiping the dust from your Sphene may cause scratches. Therefore, the best way to clean your Sphene is to use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. Do not leave any residue on your precious Sphene gemstone.
Minerals with a true adamantine luster are rare.
Adamantine means "like diamond" and refers to gemstones with high brilliance and intense fire. Besides diamond and the rare demantoid garnet, one other gem known as sphene not only rivals the luster of diamonds, but its fire spectacularly exceeds that of diamonds.
Sphene comes from the Greek SPHENOS meaning Wedge as the form of the crystals in Sphene are wedge-shaped. It is also named as Titanite which derives from the fact that it is an ore of titanium.
Titanium was discovered by the same person who had discovered uranium, which was named after Uranus meaning "Heaven" in Greek mythology. When he came upon another new element, he decided to call it titanium, after the Titans meaning "sons of the Earth".
Sphene is translucent to transparent. It frequently comes in yellow, orange and green hues, with various shades between them. It can also occur colorless, red, blue, black and brown.
Chrome sphene which is deep intense green like fine emerald is the most valuable type. It is very rare and its color is due to the element chromium.
The lighter tones of yellows, light oranges and greens, which best show off the gemstone’s amazing dispersion are preferred in gemology.
Sphene is justifiably a magical and enchanting stone. It has one of the highest dispersions of any mineral, much more than diamond. Dispersion refers to a mineral’s ability to break white light into spectral colors. This gives it an intense fire.
Sphene also has a high birefringence that results from double refraction which gives it a "fuzziness" within the stone similar to that often seen in zircon or peridot.
It is also pleochroic, showing more than one color depending on the angle from which you view it. Transparent specimens are trichroic showing three different colors.
Some rare specimens that contain a chemical element vanadium display a color change effect. These stones are found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Vanadium-bearing sphenes have shown green to yellow-green in daylight but brownish orange to brown under incandescent light. Another specimen has shown a brownish, yellowish green in daylight but orangey yellow under incandescent light.
Sphene usually comes with inclusions, the clean pieces are rare and highly valued.
Although softer than many more popular gems at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, sphenes can make wonderful jewelry stones if set and maintained properly.
Sphene has been known since 1787. In 1795 it was named Titanite by Martin Klaproth. However in 1801 Rene Just Hauy, a French mineralogist, changed the name Titanite to Sphene. But in 1982 the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN) disagreed and maintained the name to be the former Titanite. Nonetheless, though both names are recognized by mineralogists, it is Sphene that is frequently used.
It is believed that Sphene can protect the wearer from negative energy. It helps in clear thinking and creativity. It relieves fever, tissue inflammation and ease muscle strain.
Sphene aids the wearer in processing information, as well as in all aspects of improving the mind.
Sphene deposits are found in Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Austria, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and in the United States.
As Sphene is a relatively soft stone, utmost care has to be taken to prevent damage from impacts, scratches, heat, and acids (including sweat).
It should be stored away from other jewelry and kept in dust covers. Dust contains quartz and minerals from outer space. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that wiping the dust from your Sphene may cause scratches. Therefore, the best way to clean your Sphene is to use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. Do not leave any residue on your precious Sphene gemstone.