Axinite-Fe

specimen number:
1052394

location:
Obira Mine, Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture, Japan

description:
A classic old Japanese specimen, the top of this matrix mostly covered by lustrous crystals of axinite to 1.0 cm in size. Some damage present as seen. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and dates to the very early 20th century.

The Obira Mine in Oita Prefecture, Japan, is a historic mining locality that was worked for tin and other metals from hydrothermal veins cutting granitic rocks. Mining activity in the district developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and produced a variety of well crystallized mineral specimens. The mine is especially known among collectors for axinite, which occurs as sharp wedge shaped crystals with brown to violet brown color. Axinite from the Obira Mine is valued for its well formed crystals and association with minerals such as quartz, hedenbergite, and other skarn related species.

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