The facts
What anatase actually is
Mineralogically, anatase is rutile group polymorph — TiO₂, crystallising in the tetragonal system.
The colour is caused by fe and Nb traces; steely blue, brown or near-black with adamantine lustre. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 2.488–2.561, and the specific gravity sits near 3.79–3.97; cleavage is perfect {001} and {011}.
Where anatase comes from
The recognised sources are Hardangervidda and Sørlandet, Norway, Cavradi Gorge, Graubünden, Switzerland and Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How anatase is treated
Untreated. A collector species; faceted anatase is very rare and extremely brittle because of the two perfect cleavages.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What anatase is confused with
The usual confusions are Brookite, Rutile and Dark sapphire.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.488–2.561 and specific gravity 3.79–3.97 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What anatase is used for
Anatase is bought by mineral collecting, heavy industry and pigments — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6; cleavage perfect {001} and {011}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What anatase costs
Indicative pricing for anatase is Alpine crystals $50–$1,500; faceted stones rare.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is anatase treated, and how?
Untreated. A collector species; faceted anatase is very rare and extremely brittle because of the two perfect cleavages.
Where does anatase come from?
Hardangervidda and Sørlandet, Norway, Cavradi Gorge, Graubünden, Switzerland and Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is anatase hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect {001} and {011} cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does anatase cost?
Indicatively Alpine crystals $50–$1,500; faceted stones rare. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is anatase confused with?
Most often Brookite, Rutile and Dark sapphire. A refractive index of 2.488–2.561 and a specific gravity near 3.79–3.97 separate it quickly.
What is anatase used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, heavy industry and pigments. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for anatase?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about anatase