Rutile Photos
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Virtual Geology Museum      Hall of Minerals

Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

wellerr@cochise.edu     copyright 2008-R.Weller 
 

rutile crystals in quartz-1
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Rutile is titanium oxide.  One of the crystal forms that it takes is that of slender needles (acicular)
embedded in large quartz crystals.  Its color can range from yellow to red, reddish brown to black
with a submetallic luster.  More massive forms of rutile are the major source for titanium.  Highly
purified rutile (titanium oxide) is a white pigment that is used in paint, whitening toothpastes, and
even white-colored jelly beans.
 

Photo is copyright free for non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photo to R.Weller/Cochise College.

Mineral specimen courtesy of Douglass Minerals
 Dave and Liz Douglass
 10985 N. Poinsettia Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85737
 (520) 742-0294
 douglassminerals@aol.com