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Rutile

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Traduerivi, Susa, Susa Valley, Torino Province, Piedmont, Italy
© Chinellato Matteo

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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
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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
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:
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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

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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 to:
  • Rutile Group
    • 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.15bAkhtenskite
    ε-Mn
    4+
     
    		O
     
    2
    4.DB.15cNsutite
    (Mn
    4+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(O,OH)
     
    2
    4.DB.15aParamontroseite
    VO
     
    2
    4.DB.15aRamsdellite
    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.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.30Heftetjernite
    ScTaO
     
    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.40Wolframowodginite
    Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)
     
    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
    Other Languages:
    German:Cajuelit
    Dicksbergit
    Edisonit
    Gallitzinit
    Paraedrit
    Rutil
    Rutilit
    Italian:Rutilo
    Russian:Рутил
    Spanish:Cajuelita
    Dicksbergita
    Edisonita
    Gallitzinita
    Paraedrita
    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

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Rutile details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Rutile

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