MINERALS AND SYNTHETIC COMPOUNDS, AmXn, IN WHICH X ATOMS ARE
          CLOSE PACKED AND A ATOMS OCCUPY OCTAHEDRAL INTERSTICES
 
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Rutile

                  click here to see a key to this data bar                                  

octa

50%

hcp

3-d

2 edges, 2 vertices

A- 6c, X- 3c/hcp

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  structure

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. .
     The rutile structure is comprised of HCP packed X atoms with A atoms occupying .
50% of the octahedral interstices of each successive layer. .
  .
Ex. TiO2  ( titanium dioxide, rutile )    ( Ti - A , O - X ) .
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Crystal lattice
     The HCP lattice model for rutile shows that the occupied AX6 groups in each layer
are linked into continuous chains that are separated by rows of unoccupied voids.
Chains in successive layers are staggered relative to each other so that they are
linked by their vertices.
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rutile.gif

 
    Figure 86 -  Rutile lattice structure

click image to enlarge

                        
   
 
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Polyhedral framework
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linking surfaces

rutile.gif

 

   Figure 87 -   Rutile polyhedral
           framework model
           ( 86T,  116 pinges )

2 edges, 2 vertices

                click image to enlarge
.      
     The occupied AX6 chains are clearly revealed in the polyhedral framework model
as well as their linkage.
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Cleavage

Crystal habit

     (111) - perfect, (100) - good, (110) - good      prismatic
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Isostructural minerals/compounds
MgF2, FeF2, CoF2, NiF2, MnF2, ZnF2, GeO2 (low), SnO2, PbO2, a-MnO2, RuO2, IrO2,
FeTa2O6, MgSb2O, SiO2 (stishovite)
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