Description

Detailed Description

This is a wonderful twinned crystal of struverite-ilmenorutile. It is sharp and lustrous and has a partial bottom termination. In excellent condition, a couple of tiny chips can be seen with a loupe. Stands perfectly as photographed. A great specimen.

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About These Specimens of Rutile, var. Struverite-Ilmenorutile

These specimens of rutile, var. struverite-ilmenorutile, are from a 2015 pocket at the Santa Rosa Mine. They are exceptionally fine for this variety of rutile. These crystals have only had basic work done (Raman) to confirm that they are rutile, and further analytic work is required to determine the ratios of Ta:Nb. However, as became clear at the end of 2010 in respect of another small find of rutile var. struverite-ilmenorutile in this same region, even within a single crystal it is quite possible to have both struverite and ilmenorutile.