Description
This axinite is from Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit Baltistan (Northern Areas), Pakistan. This region contains many pegmatites that produce a wide range of mineral species which are collected and sold for mineral collectors. Axinite Is a sorosilcate that contains the elements Ca, Fe, Mn, Al, Bo, Si, O, and H. Its name was derived form it’s axe head appearence. This is a floater crystal, recrystallized and etched by hydrothermal fluids after its’ original formation. All sides, edges and terminations are complete and intact and it can be displayed from any angle. It is translucent, has a brown-purple color when back lighted (photo 1), and it has a glass luster. One side has some, minor, second generation feldspar crystals (white in photo). It measures 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 inches or 64 x 12 x 9 mm.
