Axinite is a rare group of calcium aluminum borate silicate minerals that rarely occurs in gemstone quality. The name 'Axinite' was derived from a Greek word meaning 'Axe'. Axinite's color can vary depending on its exact composition, but most Axinite gemstones occur with a golden brown color. Other colors can can range from lilac to violet and from brown to reddish brown.
Axinite is a very popular gemstone among mineral collectors due to its rarity and unusual crystal structure. Axinite crystal systems are triclinic and they appear as flat, spatula shaped crystals. All varieties of Axinite minerals share the same crystal system, but have slightly varying compositions of mainly calcium, but also iron, magnesium or manganese. Axinite's density, or specific gravity, depends on the exact ratio of chemical composition within a specific specimen. Axinite has distinct, good cleavage, with a conchoidal, brittle fracture, which can make the gemstone somewhat fragile compared to other gemstones, but it has relatively good hardness, ranging from 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale.
Axinite is a very popular gemstone among mineral collectors due to its rarity and unusual crystal structure. Axinite crystal systems are triclinic and they appear as flat, spatula shaped crystals. All varieties of Axinite minerals share the same crystal system, but have slightly varying compositions of mainly calcium, but also iron, magnesium or manganese. Axinite's density, or specific gravity, depends on the exact ratio of chemical composition within a specific specimen. Axinite has distinct, good cleavage, with a conchoidal, brittle fracture, which can make the gemstone somewhat fragile compared to other gemstones, but it has relatively good hardness, ranging from 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale.