a brown, yellow, green, or grey lustrous mineral consisting of calcium titanium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form. It occurs in metamorphic and acid igneous rocks and is used as a gemstone. Formula: CaTiSiO5
Also called: titanite
Word origin
C19: from French sphène, from Greek sphēn a wedge, alluding to its crystals
sphene in American English
(sfin)
noun
a variously colored mineral, CaTiSiO5, that is an ore of titanium; calcium titanium silicate
Word origin
Fr sphène < Gr sphēn, a wedge (for IE base see spoon): so named because of its crystal form