Axinite is highly prized by collectors for its distinctive wedge-shaped, blade-like crystal habits that often appear sharp and flattened. It is most commonly found in contact metamorphic rocks, specifically in calc-silicate skarns and hydrothermal veins.

Hardness

6.5-7

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineraluncommonAxinite Group family

Axinite

Hardness: 6.5-7
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this axinite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch axinite with a known reference. Axinite sits at Mohs 6.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: brown, violet-brown, plum-blue, grayish-brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: wedge-shaped crystals, tabular, massive.

Often confused with

Axinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

gemstone

Sphene

Mohs 5-5.5

How to tell apart: Axinite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5-5.5); luster reads vitreous on Axinite and adamantine on Sphene.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Axinite leaves white, Epidote leaves grayish white.

Often found alongside axinite

Minerals reported to co-occur with axinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₂(Fe,Mg,Mn)Al₂BSi₄O₁₅(OH)
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 3.27-3.35 g/cm³
Colors: BrownViolet-brownPlum-blueGrayish-brown
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Wedge-shaped crystals, tabular, massive
Cleavage: Good in one direction
Rarity: Uncommon
Uses: Collector, Lapidary
Host rock: metamorphic contact zones

Where rockhounds find axinite

6 mapped spots

Classic worldwide localities

Bourg-d'Oisans, France
Cornwall, England
Baja California, Mexico
New Jersey, USA
Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: metamorphic contact zones. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, epidote in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: wedge-shaped crystals, tabular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Jersey, California. Start trip planning there.

Browse 6 U.S. spots for axinite →

More axinite photos

Common questions

How do you identify axinite?+

Mohs hardness is 6.5-7. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include brown, violet-brown, plum-blue, grayish-brown.

Where is axinite found?+

Notable localities include Bourg-d'Oisans, France; Cornwall, England; Baja California, Mexico; New Jersey, USA; Russia.

Can I find axinite in the United States?+

RockHoundR maps 6 axinite rockhounding spots across 2 U.S. states. The top states are New Jersey, California.

What rocks look like axinite?+

Axinite is most often confused with Sphene, Epidote, Tourmaline. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with axinite?+

Axinite commonly co-occurs with Calcite, Quartz, Epidote, Actinolite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does axinite form in?+

Where it forms: metamorphic contact zones. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is axinite used for?+

Axinite is used in collector, lapidary.

Find axinite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.