Titanite on Rutile after Ilmenite with Albite

specimen number:
2341288

location:
Tasrafet, Imilchil, Midelt, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco

description:
Fine large example showing what was once an ilmenite crystal 9.0 x 4.0 cm in size, this lying flat on a matrix of crystallized albite. This ilmenite crystal is now completely replaced by deep red to black lustrous needlelike crystals of rutile. A later generation of yellow green lustrous sharp twinned crystals of titanite measuring to 0.8 cm in size are rich across this pseudomorph. In great condition. Very interesting mineralogically. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Jan Erik Larsen.

Located in the high Atlas Mountains region of Morocco, the area around Tasrafet, Imilchil, and Midelt features complex geological settings characterized by Alpine-age tectonic activity, hydrothermal veins, and pockets hosted within metamorphic and igneous rocks. Local artisanal miners and independent prospectors meticulously extract exceptional mineral specimens from these mountain cavities, transforming the region into a globally renowned destination for collectors seeking rare crystal associations. Among the fascinating finds from this region are pseudomorph specimens, where one mineral completely or partially replaces another while preserving the original external crystal form. A prime example is rutile after ilmenite, in which platy or tabular crystals of an iron-titanium mineral are altered or replaced by needle-like or aggregate networks of a titanium oxide phase during metamorphic or hydrothermal evolution, retaining the original geometric shape despite the complete chemical transformation.

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