  The $^{169}$Tm nuclide has first nuclear level at 8.41 keV with magnetic type
transition to the ground state and, therefore, can be used as a target nucleus
for the search of resonant absorption of solar axions. We plan to use a
Tm-containing crystal of a garnet family Tm$_3$Al$_5$O$_{12}$ as a bolometric
detector in order to search for the excitation of the first nuclear level of
$^{169}$Tm via the resonant absorption of solar axions. With this perspective
in mind, a sample of the Tm$_3$Al$_5$O$_{12}$ crystal was grown and tested for
its bolometric and optical properties. Measurements of chemical and/or
radioactive contaminations were performed as well. In this paper we present the
test results and estimate the requirements for a future low-background
experimental setup.
