From "sphen" (Greek) a wedge - from the shape of the crystal
Formula:
CaTiSiO5
Description:
Greenish yellow translucent wedge-shaped crystal. Sphene can be opaque and almost black.
Sphene is an ore of titanium, which has a very high melting point, and is used to make high-speed planes.
Titanium was discovered by the same person who discovered uranium, which was called after Uranus, which is Heaven in Greek mythology. So when he discovered another new element, he decided to call titanium, after the Titans, sons of the Earth.
