Rutile

This is a sample of rutile, one of the primary mineral sources of titanium. While as a metal, titanium is well known for corrosion resistance and for its high strength-to-weight ratio, approximately 95% of titanium is consumed in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a white pigment used in paints, paper, and plastics. Read more about titanium here, and learn about the titanium industry here.

Sample provided by Carlin Green, USGS. Sample originated from Alexander County, North Carolina, and is 2.5cm in size.