Pseudorutile is a secondary mineral that forms as a result of the alteration of ilmenite. It is typically found as dull, reddish-brown pseudomorphs after ilmenite in weathered heavy mineral sands and igneous deposits.
Is this pseudorutile?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch pseudorutile with a known reference. Pseudorutile sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pseudorutile leaves a yellowish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pseudorutile typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish-brown, brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: pseudomorphs after ilmenite, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Pseudorutile vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Pseudorutile leaves yellowish-brown, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads submetallic on Pseudorutile and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Pseudorutile leaves yellowish-brown, Manaccanite leaves black.
Often found alongside pseudorutile
Minerals reported to co-occur with pseudorutile. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺₂Ti₃O₉
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.2-4.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Pseudomorphs After Ilmenite, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Weathered Ilmenite Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find pseudorutile
Classic worldwide localities
- Ilmen Lake, Russia
- Queensland, Australia
- South Africa
- Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in weathered ilmenite deposits country — that is the host setting where pseudorutile typically forms. If you start seeing ilmenite, rutile, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudomorphs after ilmenite, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pseudorutile on the map
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