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Yellow Adamite on Limonite
PHOSPHATES; ARSENATES · ORTHORHOMBIC

Adamite

Zn2(AsO4)(OH)

Hardness
3.5
Streak
White
Spec. Gravity
4.3–4.5
System
Orthorhombic

About

Adamite occurs in many different lively colors. Different impurities are responsible for the color types. When copper is present in Adamite, this gives a vibrant green or blue color, and when cobalt is present, it gives a pink to purple color. Some impurities such as copper prevent the Adamite from its habit of being fluorescent.

Adamite crystals are usually embedded in rusting, crumbly, brown Limonite matrix that stain the hands. Since the Limonite crumbles when scrubbed, care must be exercised when washing such specimens.

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Other ID Marks

Striking Features

Environment

Varieties

✓ common  · ✗ uncommon

  • Cobaltoadamite— Adamite containing cobalt in its structure, which replaces some of the zinc. The presence of cobalt gives this variety a purple color. Its chemical formula is (Zn,Co)2(AsO4)(OH).
  • Cuproadamite— Adamite containing copper in its structure, which replaces some of the zinc. The presence of copper gives it a vibrant blue to green color. Its chemical formula is (Zn,Cu)2(AsO4)(OH). Zincolivenite, a new mineral name approved by the IMA in 2006, is now a recognized mineral specimen which contains an intermediary amount of copper and zinc, and is part of the Adamite-Olivenite series.

Polymorphs

Uses

Adamite is a fine specimen mineral, and is in demand by mineral collectors for its pretty crystals. Adamite is a minor ore of zinc.

Noteworthy Localities

The most magnificent occurrence for this mineral is without doubt the Ojuela Mine in Mapimi, Durango, Mexico, where large, beautiful, and highly fluorescent examples occur in all different colors. Other important occurrences are Lavrion, Greece; Cap Garonne, France; Tsumeb, Namibia; the Brenner Mine, Dal'negorsk, Russia; and Nandan, Guangxi, China. In the U.S., the best occurence is Gold Hill, Tooele Co., Utah. Small colorless crystals were also found at Chloride Cliff in Death Valley, Inyo Co., California.

Common Mineral Associations

Distinguishing Similar Minerals

Photos

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Crystal forms

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Modified Orthorhombic
Elongated Prismatic
Complex Modified Orthorhombic