Mineral description : Rutile

Rutile from Store Akervatnet.

Rutile from Tången.

Mineral class	Oxides : Rutile cassiterite group.
Chemical formula	TiO2
Crystal system	Tetragonal
Habitus	Crystals prismatic, often striated. Sometimes as thin needles in quartz. Also common as masses. Twinning in the form of harts and elbows are common.
Cleavage	Distinct, conchoidal to uneven fracture.
Hardness	6-6.5
Density	4.23
Color	Dark brownish to black, also red or yellow. Often opaque, but sometimes transparent.
Streak	Brown to yellowish.
Luster	Submetallic to adamantine.
Description
Occurance	In magmatic or metamorphic rocks, or in quartz veins in such rocks.
Associates	Commonly found with kyanite in metamorphic rocks.
Notes	Insoluble in most acids.
Locations	A not so common mineral in Sweden. Horrsjöberg, Värmland. Up to 10 cm nodules in kyanite quartzite. Lilla Blåsjön, Frostviken, Jämtland. As fist sized balls in a quartz vein together with muscovite. Kärringbricka, V. Färnebo, Västmanland. Up to 4 cm balls in a tourmaline bearing gabbro pegmatite. Store Akersvatnet, Norway. Together with kyanite in a quartz vein.

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