Rutile and Hematite

Sample of yellow/brown acicular Rutile with an adamantine lustre. The Rutile crystals are entwined with lead-grey subhedral Hematite crystals that have a submetallic lustre. Largest Hematite crystal size: 1.6 cm x 0.6 cm x 0.1 cm. Rutile (TiO2) can be red, reddish brown, brownish-yellow or black and has an adamantine to submetallic lustre. Streak is white, grey or pale brown and hardness is 6 to 6 1/2. Cleavage is distinct, sometimes good in two directions and poor in the third. Rutile usually occurs as long, striated prismatic crystals but can also be knee-shaped and rosette twins or acicular, compact and disseminated. Hematite (Fe2O3) can be steel-grey, red, reddish brown or black and has a metallic lustre. Streak is dark red, cherry-red or brownish red and hardness is 5 to 6. Hematite can be thick to thin tabular crystals but can also be compact, granular, radiated, reniform, botryoidal or earthy.