Axinites

Axinite is the group name for several closely related minerals: Axinite-(Fe), Axinite-(Mg), Axinite-(Mn), and Tinzenite. Axinite on its own without a sub-designation is not recognized as an individual mineral species by the IMA, although many mineral collectors still refer to it by its traditional name without further classifying the type of axinite. Most of the known axinite minerals are of the axinite-(Fe) type.

Axinite was named in 1787 after the Greek word αξίνα (“axina”), which means “axe”, in allusion to the sharp crystals of this mineral.

Cluster of small crystals of axinite (probably axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH) with quartz SiO2; Zbraslav, Prague District (Praha District), Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic; 66 x 63 x 14 mm

Axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH, and zeolite – stilbite-(Ca) NaCa4[Al9Si27O72]·nH2O on calcite CaCO3 from pegmatite; Żółkiewka (Pilgrimshain), Świdnica District, Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie), Poland; axinite crystal 4 x 3 mm

Cluster of small crystals of axinite (probably axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH) with quartz SiO2; Zbraslav, Prague District (Praha District), Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic; FOV: 35 mm

Cluster of small crystals of axinite (probably axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH) with quartz SiO2; Zbraslav, Prague District (Praha District), Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic; FOV: 35 mm

Axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH with double terminated quartz SiO2; Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan; quartz crystal 14 x 7 x 7mm

Axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH with quartz SiO2; Zbraslav, Prague District (Praha District), Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic; biggest crystal of axinite 17 mm

Zeolite – stilbite-(Ca) NaCa4[Al9Si27O72]·nH2O and axinite-(Fe) Ca2FeAl2BSi4O15OH on calcite CaCO3; Żółkiewka (Pilgrimshain), Świdnica District, Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie), Poland; bundle-like stilbite aggregate 12 mm

Axinite-(Fe) on amphiboles (green actinolite □{Ca2}{Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 and white tremolite □{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2);Alchuri (Alchori; Aschudi), Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Pakistan; axinite crystal 29 x 20 x 5mm