RUTILE QUARTZ CABOCHON

MICA-GOLD NEEDLES

THIS IS A NATURAL STONE MINED IN BRAZIL. RULITE IS A MAJOR ORE OF TITANIUM, WHICH IS A METAL, USED HIGH TECH ALLOYS. IT OFTEN FORMS NEEDLE LIKE CRYSTALS INCLUSIONS INSIDE QUARTZ. THIS FORM OF QUARTZ IS KNOWN AS RUTILATED QUARTZ AND IT LOOKS LIKE SMALL BARS OF IMBEDDED GOLD NEEDLES.

RULITE IS A 6 MOHS SCALE AND BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN HARDNESS BETWEEN THE TWO MATERIALS AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY RULITE FORMS INSIDE, THIS CAN BE A DIFFICULT STONE TO ATTAIN A SMOOTH SURFACE WITHOUT PITS. RUTILATED QUARTZ HAS BEEN REFERRED TO HAVE CUPIDS DARTS, VENUS HAIR STONE AND FLETCHERS D’AMOUR.THERE IS MUCH WASTAGE IN CUTTING CLEAR TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL LIKE THIS