Characteristics of Rutile:

Chemical Name: Titanium dioxide

Formula: TiO2

Colors: Reddish brown to red, golden

Structure: Tetragonal

Hardness: 6-6.5

Specific Gravity: 4.2-4.3

Refractive Index: 2.62-2.90

Lustre: Sub-adamantine to sub-metallic

Streak: Pale brown to yellowish

Locations: Sweden, Italy, France, Australia, Brazil, USA

What is Rutile? 

Arguably, rutile is more important as a mineral that imparts desirable characteristics to other stones than it is as a gem in its own right. Rutile commonly forms microscopic, oriented inclusions in other minerals, and produces the asterism shown by star rubies and sapphires. It is also familiar as the golden, needle-like crystals trapped inside crystals of rutilated quartz, a material that has been used as an ornament since ancient times. Some reddish rutile crystals are darkly transparent and these are sometimes faceted for collectors.