Rutile
Rutile is the most common and stable form of titanium dioxide found in nature. It forms under high pressure and high temperature in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is a key ingredient in paint and also a useful component in optical equipment.
Type
Mineral
Mineral Classification
Oxide
Chemical Formula
TiO2
Streak
Bright red to dark red
Mohs Hardness
6.0 - 6.5
Crystal System
Tetragonal ditetragonal dipyramidal
Color
Reddish brown, red, pale yellow, pale blue, violet, rarely grass-green, or black
Luster
Adamantine to submetallic
Fracture
Uneven to sub-conchoidal
Description
Rutile is the most common and stable form of titanium dioxide found in nature. It forms under high pressure and high temperature in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is a key ingredient in paint and also a useful component in optical equipment.
Relation to Mining
Rutile is recovered through surface mining and dredging of dense beach sands.
Uses
Because it has a very high index of refraction, rutile is used for many purposes in optics, a vast majority of which come from synthetic rutile, which was first produced in 1948. As a source of titanium dioxide pigment, rutile is used in plastics, paper products, paints, sunscreen, and even food coloring. Certain welding equipment also uses it.
