Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
rutile

Chemical Group:    oxide

Chemical Formula:    TiO₂

Color:  reddish-brown, red, yellowish, bluish, violet, black

Streak: pale brown

Hardness:  6 to 6.5          Specific Gravity:  4.18 to 4.25

Fracture:  subconchoidal to uneven

Cleavage:  2 directions

Transparency:  transparent to opaque

Crystal Forms and Habits:  Tetragonal system
     Crystals are commonly prismatic, acicular, vertically striated
     Twinning is common

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  ore of titanium, white paint pigment

Occurrences:  rutilated quartz from Minas Geraes, Brazil

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low          when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: