Mineral Factbook

Rutilated quartz

Varietyof Quartz

Rutilated quartz is quartz enclosing needle-like crystals of rutile. As a variety of Quartz, it shares that species' composition (SiO2), crystal structure, and hardness; the distinction is the appearance defined above.

Photos

Rutilated quartz specimen photo
Lech Darski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rutilated quartz specimen photo
Dguendel · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Rutilated quartz specimen photo
Dguendel · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Rutilated quartz specimen photo
Dguendel · CC BY 4.0 · Commons

About Quartz (parent)

Full reference data — crystallography, X-ray diffraction, and cited physical properties — is on the Quartz species page.

FormulaSiO2
Hardness (Mohs)7
Specific gravity2.6-2.64
Density (calculated)2.65
Crystal systemtrigonal
Color rangeblack, blue, brown, colorless, green, red, yellow
Lusterdull, greasy, vitreous
Streakwhite

About Rutile (minor)

Full reference data — crystallography, X-ray diffraction, and cited physical properties — is on the Rutile species page.

FormulaTiO2
Hardness (Mohs)6.645
Specific gravity4.18-4.25
Density (calculated)4.233
Crystal systemtetragonal
Color rangeblack, brown, green, red, violet, yellow
Lusteradamantine, metallic
Streakbrown