Axinite

I. Introduction
What is Axinite? 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.

Composition Basic aluminum boro-silicate of calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese

Color Smoky brown, dark brown, purplish-brown, greenish-brown, gray, and
black. Less commonly purple, blue, green, orange, or yellow. Very rarely
multicolored. Axinite is strongly dichroic.
Streak Colorless
Hardness 6.5 - 7
Crystal System Triclinic
3D Crystal Atlas
(Click for animated
model)

Crystal Forms Axinite forms in characteristic, flattened tabular crystals with sharp edges,
and Aggregates and in dense groups of such crystals. Also grainy, bladed, columnar,
in platy aggregates, in rosettes of sharp crystals, and massive. Crystals are
often striated or have parallel line growths.

Transparency Transparent to nearly opaque

Specific Gravity 3.3 - 3.4
Luster Vitreous
Cleavage 2,1
Fracture Conchoidal to uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Other ID Marks Axinite-(Mn) from Franklin, New Jersey has a red fluorescence.
In Group Silicates; Cyclosilicates
Striking Features Color and crystal habits