Description
Rutilated quartz is a variety of quartz. The color varies from white transparent rock crystal to dark gray or dark brown smoky quartz, filled with silvery, gold-colored, or reddish to red rutile needles. Chemical composition: SiO2 + TiO2 (rutile) + Fe, Sn, V, Cr, Nb, Ta + (Na, K, Cl, C). Crystal system: quartz is trigonal, rutile is tetragonal. Crystal class: oxides. Cleavage: ondu. Color: dark pink to very light, transparent pink. Streak color: white. Luster: vitreous. Fracture: rough, shell-shaped. Hardness (Mohs): 7. Average specific gravity: 2.68 – 2.72. Transparency: transparent to translucent. A common mineral. Localities include Switzerland, Brazil, Madagascar, the USA, and Australia. The rutile needles were mistaken for the hair of Venus, giving the crystal the nickname Venus's hair quartz or sagenite. This was said to be a powerful love amulet. Later, it was believed that this mineral contained angel hair, and it was given the name angel hair quartz. Rutilated quartz is associated with the zodiac signs Leo and Aries.
