Adamite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAdamite
Chemical FormulaZn₂AsO₄(OH)
Mohs Hardness3.5
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagegood on {101}, poor on {010}
Fractureuneven to subconchoidal
Specific Gravity4.35
Colorswhite, pink, purple
Transparencytransparent to translucent
Type LocalityOjuela Mine, Mapimí, Mun. de Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
Mineral GroupArsenates
Usescollector
Associated Mineralslotharmeyerite, limonite, goethite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen displays numerous prismatic to tabular Adamite crystals, ranging from translucent white to vibrant pink and purple, embedded within a dark brown to black iron-rich matrix.
Geological Context
Adamite is a secondary mineral typically found in the oxidized zones of zinc-rich hydrothermal ore deposits, often forming in arid environments where arsenic is also present.
