CHEMISTRY - TiO2
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY - Tetragonal, often producing sharp dipyramidal crystals that are highly modified. Anatase can also occur as tabular or prismatic crystals.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES - Transparent to opaque depending on the impurities. Colors include brown, yellowish to reddish brown, black and even greenish. It is rarely colorless.
HARDNESS - 5.5 - 6
SPECIFIC GRAVITY - 3.8 - 4.0
LUSTER - Anatase can have an adamantine to metallic luster.
STREAK - White to pale yellow
BREAKABILITY - Very good cleavage and subconchoidal fracture. It is brittle.
OCCURRENCE - Anatase is generally a secondary mineral produced by hydrothermal alteration of other titanium minerals. It is also found as detrital mineral in sediments.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS - Brookite, Rutile, Titanite, Ilmenite, Hematite and Quartz.
MINERAL NAME - From the Greek for "extension" for the elongated pyramidal crystals.