Axinite-(Fe)

Listed elsewhere for $260. Accepting offers.

This is a stunning Axinite crystal specimen from Skardu, Pakistan. Axinite is a brittle mineral, so most crystals have moderate damage. However, this specimen has only minor chips along the edges, and the crystal faces are large and crystal-clear. These are the hallmarks of a rare and very high quality Axinite crystal. Also, this is not a single crystal but two bladed crystals of roughly equal size that grew with their large, flat faces pressed up against each other. There is also a smaller, very thin, tabular Axinite crystal similarly attached near the base of one of the two larger crystals.

The pleochroism displayed by this specimen is nothing short of captivating. The primary color is a warm golden-brown, but when rotated and titled the crystal shows orange, wine-red, deep purple, and even an occasional touch of green. All these colors are easily visible to the naked eye in almost any lighting. It’s really fun to just take out and look at once in a while….

Dimensions: 1.545 x 0.675 x 0.317 inches (3.92 x 2.71 x 0.81 cm)

Mass/weight: 0.216 oz (6.14g)