BROOKITE
Class : Oxides and hydroxides
Subclass : Oxides
Crystal system : Orthorhombic
Chemistry : TiO2
Rarity : Rare
Brookite is an accessory mineral that is typically found in the fissures of alpine-type gneisses and shales. It is also found in contact metamorphism zones, hydrothermal veins and is commonly found in alluvium. It is the rarest polymorph of TiO2, the other two being rutile and anatase. It owes its name to the English mineralogist and crystallographer Henry James Brooke. The brookite is presented in centimetric lamellar crystals, strongly striated according to the elongation, much more rarely in prisms with vertically striated faces, terminated by pyramids. The brookite is transparent to opaque, of adamantine to metallic luster, and of yellow, brown-yellow, brown or black color. It is a mineral appreciated by collectors, some rare crystals have been cut as a gemstone.
Brookite in the World
Brookite in France
In France, the Plan du Lac crystals (Isère) exceptionally reach 5 cm, however what is generally observed does not exceed one centimeter... while the Aiguille des Glaciers needles (Mont-Blanc) are famous for its acicular crystals of 3 cm.
Twinning
The brookite would twinned on {120}, but uncertain...
Fakes and scams
No fake inventories for this mineral species, possible assemblies and re-bonding on certain pieces of Pakistan.
Hardness : 5.5 to 6
Density : 4.08 to 4.18
Fracture : Irregular to sub-conchoidal
Streak : White to gray
TP : Opaque to transparent
RI : 2,583 to 2,700
Birefringence : 0.117
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Moderate
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Insoluble
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None