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Ilmenorutile crystals
© Modris Baum
Ilmenorutile crystals
© Doug Merson
(Ti,Nb,Ta,Fe3+, Fe2+)O
Ilmenorutile is discredited by the IMA during a vast revision of pre-IMA (1959) species. Ilmenorutile is Nb-bearing rutile.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually dark gray.
Luster is sub-metallic.
Diaphaneity is opaque.
Crystal System is tetragonal; mnm
Crystal Habits include irregular clusters of prismatic crystals.
Cleavage [110] is distinct, [100] is imperfect.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 6 -6.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.75 g/cm
Streak is grayish to greenish-black.
Associated Minerals include albite, franconite, microcline,
rhodochrosite, rutile and siderite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit, color and luster.
Origin: Named in 1854 after its discovery locality, at Miask, Ilmen
Mountains, Russia and its similarity to rutile.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 4.4.1.2
Strunz Classification
# IV/D.03-10
REFERENCES:
Dana 8:237 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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PE
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