Oxygen self-diffusion in rutile was studied in synthetic and natural samples at 750 to 1000C under 0.1 to 1000MPa using an 18O-enriched source. The uptake profiles of 18O in experimental products were measured by nuclear reaction analysis using the reaction, 18O(p,α)15N. Two mechanisms were responsible for O diffusion in rutile, and one was faster than the other by about an order of magnitude. The O that diffused parallel to the c-axis via the faster mechanism was described by:

D(m2/s) = 4.7 x 10-7 exp[-258(kJ/mol)/RT]

Diffusion via the slower mechanism was described by:

D(m2/s) = 5.9 x 10-5 exp[-330(kJ/mol)/RT]

D.K.Moore: American Mineralogist, 1998, 83[7-8], 700-11