Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Oxides
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : TiO₂
    Rarity : Rare

Anatase is a titanium oxide, a rutile polymorph. Although much rarer than the latter, it is typically found in alpine clefts and some metamorphic rocks of greenschist and amphibolite facies, and more rarely in some pegmatites and carbonatites. It takes its name from the Greek anatasis (extension) in reference to a particularly developed axis of elongation compared to other tetragonal minerals. Anatase forms acute or more rarely obtuse octahedra, sometimes tabular, rarely prismatic with often horizontally striated faces (characteristic alpine facies), as well as flattened crystals sometimes terminated by a double pyramide. It is a transparent to translucent mineral, sometimes opaque with almost metallic adamantine luster. Its color is usually yellow honey to dark brown or black, sometimes gray to dark blue. The crystals are small, rarely centimetric. Anatase is popular with mineral collectors but without special uses.

Rare on {112} and usually visible on small crystals. See photo on the right, twinned anatase specimen from Solumsasen Quarry, Holmestrand, Norway (copyright Enrico Bonacina - Source Mindat).

There are no fake records for this species.