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        SPHENE, a rare mineral exploited chiefly in the Khibiny (cf.) deposits

on the Kola Peninsula of the Soviet European Arctic, is found also in

the Shishim, Naziam and Ilmen Mts. of the Ural range, and near Sliudianka

station on the Trans-Siberian [ ?] railroad in eastern Siberia. In

its pure form, it is CaTiSiO ₅ , but is usually admixed with Fe ₂ O ₃ , MnO,

FeO, Al ₂ O ₃ and U ₂ O ₃ . It crystallizes in the [ ?] monoclinic system as flat,

wedge-like, or, more rarely, columnar forms. It is usually, yellow, green

or brown to black in color. It may be translucent or semi-opaque. Three

types are 100 known: (1) sphene proper, translucent, chiefly greenish-yellow

crystals; (2) titanite - sphene of a brown to black color; and (3)

leukoxene, a pseu d omorphosis of titanite on titanitic hematite. It is of

magmatic and contact origin. It is used as a source of titanium and for

the preparation of titanic whites. It is not known whether its admix–

tures with uranium are exploited as a source of atomic energy.

       

William Mandel

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