Fifteen facts about rutilated quartz
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| rutilated quartz ring |
- Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO².
- Quartz is the most common mineral in the earth's crust and as a gem it is also the most commonly used of the minerals. In the form of minute dust particles in the air, it scratches other gemstones of lesser hardness.
- Rutile has among the highest refractive indices of any known mineral and also exhibits high dispersion.
- Rutile is a major ore of titanium, which is a metal used for high tech alloys. It often forms needle-like crystal inclusions inside quartz. This form of quartz is known as rutilated quartz and it looks like small bars of imbedded gold. Rutile is a 6 on the Mohs scale.
- In 2005 the Republic of Sierra Leone in West Africa had a production capacity of 23% of the world's annual rutile supply, which rose to approximately 30% in 2008.
- Rutilated quartz is transparent rock crystal with golden needles of rutile arrayed in patterns inside. The inclusions are sometimes called Venus hair.
- Finely powdered rutile is a brilliant white pigment and is used in paints, plastics, paper, foods, and other applications that call for a bright white color.
- Rutilated quartz is found in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan and the United States.
- Small rutile needles present in gems are responsible for an optical phenomenon known as asterism. Asterated gems are known as "star" gems.
- An other mineral inclusion occurs in the variety called tourmalinated quartz, this instead of golden rutile, has black or dark green tourmaline crystals.
- Rutile is widely used as a welding electrode covering.
- Rutile is said to intensify the metaphysical properties of its host crystal and to enhance one's understanding of difficult situations. It is also said to enhance creativity and to relieve depression and loneliness.
- Synthetic rutile was first produced in 1948 and is sold under a variety of names.
- This was called in French «flèches d'amour» or Cupid's darts. It has also been called Thetis hairstone, needlestone or sagenitic quartz.
- Rutilated quartz is said to slow down the aging process and is said to be a strong healer.
