spinner-caricamento
Share

University Museum of Earth Sciences verified

Rome, Lazio, Italy closed Visit museumarrow_right_alt

fullscreen
Beryl
fullscreen
Sodalite
fullscreen
Sulfur
fullscreen
Imperial topaz
fullscreen
Sicilian amber
fullscreen
The Eagle, meteorite di tipo condrite L
fullscreen
Garnet
fullscreen
Renazzo, chondrite type meteorite
fullscreen
Monte Milone, L-type chondrite meteorite
fullscreen
Diamante
fullscreen
Axinite
fullscreen
Magnesite
fullscreen
Dactyliotheca
Beryl
Sodalite
Sulfur
Imperial topaz
Sicilian amber
The Eagle, meteorite di tipo condrite L
Garnet
Renazzo, chondrite type meteorite
Monte Milone, L-type chondrite meteorite
Diamante
Axinite
Magnesite
Dactyliotheca

Other works on display

Description

Axinite or assinite, as reported on the original tag, brown in large crystals with albite and epidote on green schist, from St. Cristophe en Oisans, Isere, France.

Axinite is part of a group of borosilicates characterized by the presence of Ca and Al, has pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties and is very difficult to meet in samples of good quality and size due to its rarity and the difficulty of extraction and storage. (due to the fragility of the crystals). The specimen of axinite described here, which arrived in the Museum of Mineralogy in the Spada collection in 1852, is a splendid exception.

The sample has an absolute aesthetic value, where the axinite crystals, from transparent to translucent, are characterized by a perfect triclinic dress (one of the rarest in nature) and by an attractive brown color that turns to violet due to a strong pleochroism visible to the naked eye (properties of some minerals, which show different colors depending on the orientation of the crystal). To increase the importance of the sample illustrated in the figure is its origin: this example comes from excavations carried out in the nineteenth century in St Christophe-en-Oisans, a famous type locality for axinite, where the deposits are currently exhausted. The essence of the museum is therefore splendidly concentrated in this axinite: 1) the historical importance that translates into observing minerals that can no longer be extracted, 2) being able to enjoy the most beautiful pieces among those still around, coming from mines exhausted.


Discounts and prices’ reductions with the Artsupp Card

With the Artsupp Card you can get, for the first time, discounts and reduced entrance tickets for Italian museums .

Discover more

Other artworks in Roma

What you can find on Artsupp

Artsupp is the museums’ portal through which it’s easy to discover art, exhibitions and artworks. Now museums in France, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain can also share their activities with users

About us