Several videos of rutile in thin section, showing typical textures and optical characteristics. Supported by Boise State University and the US National Science Foundation.
Key characteristics: Amber color (usually) high relief, high interference colors, parallel extinction, can alter to ilmenite or titanite
00:00 Typical elongate crystals
00:30 Typical blobby crystal
01:00 Unusual purplish crystal (occurs with more typical amber crystals)
01:31 Rimmed by titanite
02:06 Altering to ilmenite
02:37 Altering to ilmenite (another example)
03:10 Inclusions in garnet