-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BoqIgZrOPrgcLS/0KlnhqWI4ZQlzNdAaojIAcK/VCcwxl5Ya5Vt6y93bnDsUTA8e
 uLmSLDM5D+pRpGCQjvxo2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-10-001160.txt : 20100329
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-10-001160.hdr.sgml : 20100329
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100329200518
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-10-001160
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100329
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100329
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100329

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Harvat John F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001454706

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12497
		FILM NUMBER:		10711977

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALTAIRNANO INC
		STREET 2:		204 EDISON WAY
		CITY:			RENO
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89502

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001016546
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS [2890]
		IRS NUMBER:				870372759
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		204 EDISON WAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			RENO
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(775) 858-3744

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		204 EDISON WAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			RENO
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89502

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALTAIR INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970529

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALTAIR INTERNATIONAL GOLD INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960611
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001016546</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001454706</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Harvat John F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>204 EDISON WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RENO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>89521</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>VP and General Counsel</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.7201</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John F. Harvat</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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