2.8" Axinite Crystal Cluster - Peru

About Axinite

Axinite is a distinctive borosilicate mineral known for its sharp crystal forms, high luster, and rich range of earthy to violet-brown colors. It typically forms in metamorphic environments—especially in areas where calcium-rich rocks have been altered by heat and fluids—and often occurs alongside minerals like epidote, garnet, and quartz. Axinite crystals are prized for their unusually flattened, wedge- or axe-shaped forms (a nod to the mineral’s name), with striated faces that catch light beautifully. Depending on the specific variety—ferroaxinite, magnesioaxinite, or manganaxinite—the mineral can display hues ranging from smoky brown and reddish purple to more yellowish or pinkish tones. Transparent to translucent and often highly lustrous, axinite is valued by collectors both as well-formed crystal clusters and as polished specimens that highlight its subtle pleochroism and internal color zoning.