Rutile

Two highly lustrous dark red-brown Rutile crystals measuring to 1.8 cm emerge from a mound of iron-stained Quartz crystals which form the matrix. The Rutile displays magnificently and amongst the stubby quartz crystals are two-part Rutile crystals in association. Under magnification the Rutile reveals internal red reflections. This large miniature is from Mount Kaputjugh in the Syunik Province of Armenia, a mountain 3904 m high and when a part of the Soviet Union, this locality was regarded as the best and most important occurrence for Rutile in the entire USSR. The Rutile is superb.