Mineral Species: Adamite

Chemical Formula: Zn2AsO4(OH)

Chemical Name: Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide

Mineral Class: Arsenate

Mineral Notes: Adamite is a popular collecting mineral because of its green colour and strong green fluorescence under LW UV light. Adamite is isostructural with the minerals Cuproadamite, Olivenite and Libethenite. This means that they share the same symmetry and similar crystal shapes. Adamite however is not easy to mistake for any other mineral because of its bright green fluorescence and high luster.  

Description: This is a very unusual purple form of the mineral. The colour comes from the presence of very small amounts of Cobalt as an impurity. The mineral forms excellent crystals which line the sides of a deep cavity within the matrix. The crystals show some green fluorescence under UV light.

Location: Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.