Axinite-(Fe)

Item Description

Here we have a unique, miniature sized specimen of Axinite-(Fe) from this "Alpine-type" deposit in the Pakistani high mountains. The crystal is fairly gemmy with sharp faces, good luster and that classic "wedge"-shaped habit. The color is mostly a golden brown hue, but you can see slightly lilac-clove highlights. When the crystal is backlit, it almost has a slightly "smoky" or "hazy" appearance. The edges of the crystal have an unusual "stepped" growth that seems to be the result of an intergrown mineral (either Diopside or a member of the Epidote group) with the Axinite. I don't see any major damage save the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. If you collect "Alpine-type" minerals, this is something that you rarely see on the market. These crystals compare quite favorably to the famous metamorphic Axinites that came out of Russia in the 1990s or true Alpine Axinites from France that were the standard for Axinite-(Fe) for a long time. It's not easy to find a multi-terminated crystal of Axinite this size from any locality, so don't miss out on this one as very few were found at Khapalu, and this is an older specimen going back to the mid 2000s.