Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Rutile

Big Photo

Champion Mine, Laws, White Mts, Mono Co., California, USA
© 2001 John H. Betts

Show Rutile Photos (587)
Formula:
TiO
 
2
System:TetragonalColour:Blood red, bluish, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, MetallicHardness:6 - 6½
Name:From the Latin, rutilus - "reddish."
Polymorph of:Anatase, Brookite, IMA2007-058, TiO2 II


Rutile Group

Rutile is one of the five forms of titanium dioxide found in nature.

Sellaite (magnesium fluoride, MgF2) also has a rutile-type structure.

Classification of Rutile

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DB.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:4.4.1.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.9.2

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3486.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Rutile

Type Locality:Cajuelo, Vuitrago, Burgos, Castile and Leon, Spain
Year of Discovery:1803

Occurrences of Rutile

Geological Setting:As an accessory mineral in high pressure, high temperature igneous rocks, in placers.

Physical Properties of Rutile

Lustre:Adamantine, Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent on thin edges
Colour:Blood red, bluish, brownish yellow, brown-red, yellow, grayish-black, black, brown, or violet
Streak:Greyish black, pale brown, light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=894 - 974 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
{110} distinct, {100} less distinct; and, {111} in traces.
Parting:On {092} due to twin gliding; also on {011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.23(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.25 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rutile

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P42/mnm (P42/m 21/n 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.5937Å, c = 2.9587Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.644
Unit Cell Volume:V 62.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Commonly prismatic, often slender to acicular [001]. Prism zone vertically striated or furrowed. Usually terminated by {101} or {111}; {001} rare. Rarely pyramidal. Granular massive.
Twinning:On {011} common. Often genticulated; also contact twins of very varied habit. Sixlings and eightlings at times, occasionally polysynthetic. The twins are sometimes distorted by extension of a pair of faces on {011}. Twin gliding observed on this plane as well. Also on {031}, rare. On {092}, as twin gliding plane.
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Rutile no.26 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rutile no.28 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rutile no.52 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rutile no.62 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rutile no.107 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.

Epitaxial Relationships of Rutile

Epitaxial Minerals:
MagnetiteIlmeniteHematiteBrookiteAnatase
Epitaxi Comments:Oriented microscopic needles of rutile are frequently observed in corundum, pseudobrookite, phlogopite, and quartz.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Rutile

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 2.605 - 2.613 nε = 2.899 - 2.901
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.294

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Dispersion:Strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Shades of red, brown, yellow and green.

Chemical Properties of Rutile

Formula:
TiO
 
2
Essential elements:O, Ti
All elements listed in formula:O, Ti
Common Impurities:Fe,Ta,Nb,Cr,V,Sn

Relationship of Rutile to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.DB.05Argutite
GeO
 
2
4.DB.05Cassiterite
SnO
 
2
4.DB.05Plattnerite
PbO
 
2
4.DB.05Pyrolusite
MnO
 
2
4.DB.05Tripuhyite
Fe
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DB.05Tugarinovite
MoO
 
2
4.DB.05Varlamoffite
(Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.10Byströmite
MgSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Ordoñezite
ZnSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.15Akhtenskite
ε-Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.15Nsutite
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.15Paramontroseite
VO
 
2
4.DB.15Ramsdellite
Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.20Scrutinyite
alpha-PbO
 
2
4.DB.25Ishikawaite
U
4+
 
Fe
2+
 
Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Y)
(Y,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,U,Th,Ca)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Srilankite
Ti
 
2
ZrO
 
6
4.DB.25Yttrocolumbite-(Y)
Y(U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Calciosamarskite
(Ca,Fe
3+
 
,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Iwashiroite-(Y)
Y(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Yb)
(Yb,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Písekite-(Y)
4.DB.30Ferberite
FeWO
 
4
4.DB.30Hübnerite
MnWO
 
4
4.DB.30Sanmartinite
(Zn,Fe)WO
 
4
4.DB.30Krasnoselskite
CoWO
 
4
4.DB.35Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Qitianlingite
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
WO
 
10
4.DB.35Magnocolumbite
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.40Ferrowodginite
FeSnTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiowodginite
LiTa
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Titanowodginite
MnTiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Ferrotitanowodginite
Fe
2+
 
TiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.45Tivanite
VTiO
 
3
(OH)
4.DB.50Carmichaelite
(Ti,Cr,Fe)[O
 
2-x
(OH)
 
x
]
4.DB.55Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
4.DB.60Biehlite
((Sb,As)O)
 
2
[MoO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.9.1Hongquiite
TiO
7.9.3Anatase
TiO
 
2
7.9.4Brookite
TiO
 
2
7.9.5Geikielite
MgTiO
 
3
7.9.6Perovskite
CaTiO
 
3
7.9.7Kassite
CaTi
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)
 
2
7.9.8Tausonite
SrTiO
 
3
7.9.9Crichtonite
(Sr,La,Ce,Y)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Mn)
 
21
O
 
38
7.9.10Lucasite-(Ce)
CeTi
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
7.9.11Hibonite
(Ca,Ce)(Al,Fe,Ti,Si,Mg)
 
12
O
 
19
7.9.12Yttrocrasite-(Y)
(Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
7.9.13Pyrophanite
Mn
2+
 
TiO
 
3
7.9.14Iwakiite
Mn(Fe,Mn)
 
2
O
 
4
7.9.15Ilmenite
Fe
2+
 
TiO
 
3
7.9.16Pseudobrookite
Fe
 
2
TiO
 
5
7.9.17Ulvöspinel
Fe
 
2
TiO
 
4
7.9.18Pseudorutile
Fe
 
2
Ti
 
3
O
 
9
7.9.19Freudenbergite
Na
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
8
O
 
16
7.9.20 Kennedyite
MgFeTi
 
3
O
 
10
7.9.21Armalcolite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Ti
 
2
O
 
5
7.9.22Högbomite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al,Ti)
 
5
O
 
10
7.9.23Qandilite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Ti,Fe,Al)O
 
4
7.9.24Cafetite
(Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)
 
2
Ti
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
7.9.25Loveringite
(Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)
 
21
O
 
38
7.9.26Lindsleyite
(Ba,Sr)(Ti,Zr,Fe,Cr)
 
21
O
 
38
7.9.27Priderite
(K,Ba)(Ti,Fe)
 
8
O
 
16
7.9.28Jeppeite
(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
6
O
 
13
7.9.29Ankangite
Ba(Ti,V
3+
 
,Cr)
 
8
O
 
16
7.9.30Ecandrewsite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)TiO
 
3
7.9.31Landauite
NaMnZn
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
6
Ti
 
12
O
 
38

Other Names for Rutile

Synonyms:
CajueliteCrispiteDicksbergiteEdisoniteGallitzinite
Naumannite (of Koksharov)ParaedriteRed SchorlRother SchorlRutilite
Schorl RougeTitane oxydéTitane oxydé chromifèreTitanite (of Kirwan)Titankalk
Titanschorl
German names:
CajuelitDicksbergitEdisonitGallitzinitParaedrit
RutilRutilit
Italian names:
Rutilo
Russian names:
Рутил
Spanish names:
CajuelitaDicksbergitaEdisonitaGallitzinitaParaedrita
Rutilita
Varieties:
Gel-RutileIlmenorutileIserite (of Janovsky)LusteriteNigrine
Niobian RutileSagenite (of Saussure)Strüverite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Rutile

Reference List:Miller (1840), Phil. Mag.: 17: 268.

Hidden (1888), American Journal of Science: 36: 272 (as edisonite).

Prior and Zambonini (1908), Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 78.

Lacroix (1912), Bull. soc. min.: 35: 185.

Ungemach (1916), Bull. soc. min.: 39: 5.

Gliszczynski (1940), Zbl. Min.: 181.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 554-561.

Canadian Mineralogist (1979): 17: 77.

Foord, E.E., Chirnside, W., Davis, A.M., Lichte, F.E., Esposito, K.J. (1995): A new U–Ti–Ca–HREE hydrated oxide and associated niobian rutile from Topaz Valley, Utah. Mineralogical Record, 26, 122-128.

Smith, D.C. and Perseil, E.-A. (1997) Sb-rich rutile in the manganese concentrations at St. Marcel-Praborna, Aosta Valley, Italy: petrology and crystal-chemistry. Mineralogical Magazine: 61: 655-669.

Maldener, J., Rauch, F., Gavranic, M., and Beran, A. (2001) OH absorption coefficients of rutile and cassiterite deduced from nuclear reaction analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Mineralogy and Petrology: 71: 21-29.

Withers, Anthony C., Eric J. Essene, and Youxue Zhang (2003), Rutile/TiO2 II phase equilibria: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 145: 199-204.

Internet Links for Rutile

Search Engines:
  • Look for Rutile on Google
  • Look for Rutile images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Rutile on Webmineral
  • Look for Rutile on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Rutile on Wikipedia
  • Look for Rutile on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Rutile in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Rutile details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Search for Rutile on minvision.com
  • Find Rutile on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Rutile specimens
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for Rutile at Thames Valley Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Rutile

    Show Locality List (2639 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.