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, so 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, so 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, 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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How much is pseudorutile worth?+
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Find pseudorutile on the map
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