mineral
Smoky Quartz with Axinite
SiO2 (Quartz) with (Ca,Mn,Fe,Mg)3Al2BSi4O15(OH) (Axinite)
Hardness: 6.5 to 7. Color: Smoky brown, tan, to dark clove-brown. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (quartz) and Triclinic (axinite). Cleavage: None (quartz) to good (axinite).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Smoky brown, tan, to dark clove-brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5 to 7. Color: Smoky brown, tan, to dark clove-brown. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (quartz) and Triclinic (axinite). Cleavage: None (quartz) to good (axinite).
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, or contact metamorphic environments where boron-bearing fluids interact with calcium-rich rocks. Common in Alpine-type clefts.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a collector specimen. High-quality smoky quartz is used in jewelry and metaphysical practices, while axinite is a rare collector gemstone.
Geological facts
The brown color in smoky quartz is caused by natural irradiation of aluminum impurities within the crystal lattice. Axinite is named for its sharp, axe-head shaped crystals.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its brownish translucency, conchoidal fracture in the quartz, and the presence of bladed, axe-like crystals of axinite. Often found in mountainous regions like the Alps, Urals, or California.
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Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
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Mineral
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
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