Description
This manganaxinite is from the Merelani Hills in the Lalatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. This location encompasses a large area with several mines and diggings that produce 65 different minerals. It is famous for it’s production of tanzanite as well as other crystal species like diopside, tremolite and axinite to name a few. This axinite is of the manganese rich variety and it is a silicate that contains the elements Ca, Mn, Al, B, Si, O and H. This crystal has the typical blade-like morphology of the species. It has a lavender color and a glass luster with vertical striations. There are some light oxide deposits scattered around the surface of the crystal. It measures 11 x 11 x 2 mm.