Rutilated Quartz
Image: “Jon Zander (<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Digon3" title="User:Digon3">Digon3</a>)" (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameRutilated Quartz
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorscolorless, yellowish-brown, golden
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityBrazil
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector, ornamental
Associated Mineralsrutile, feldspar, mica
Rarityuncommon
Description
A transparent to translucent quartz specimen, appearing yellowish-brown in parts, characterized by numerous fine, needle-like golden rutile inclusions, often described as 'hairs'. The specimen has an irregular, free-form shape.
Geological Context
Rutilated quartz typically forms in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites, where titanium-rich fluids are present during the crystallization of quartz, allowing rutile needles to grow within the quartz matrix.
