Adamite
General Information
Adamite is a favorite among collectors of fluorescent minerals because of its consistent bright green fluorescence under short and long UV light. Also, it makes a wonderful mineral specimen in ordinary light.
Adamite is isostructural with the minerals cuproadamite - (Cu, Zn)2(AsO4)(OH), olivenite - Cu2AsO4(OH) and libethenite - Cu2PO4(OH). This means that they share the same symmetry and similar crystal shapes. Cuproadamite, which is intermediate between adamite and olivenite, is not completely recognized as a different mineral from adamite but is becoming accepted in ordinary usage.
Adamite is not easy to mistake for any other mineral. Its bright green fluorescence, high luster, "sub" botyroidal crystal habit, high density, associations, typical bright green color and double triangle terminations make it an exquisite specimen for a collection, as well as an easy identification. Adamite typically shows a radiating habit that is somewhat between a simple druse and a botryoidal habit which gives a nice glimpse into how botryoidal habits form
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Chemistry: Zn2AsO4(OH), Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide |
Class: Phosphates
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Subclass: Arsenates
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Color: Green; can be yellow, white or purple
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Streak: White to Pale Green |
Luster: Adamantine
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Transparency: Transparent to translucent
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Crystal System: Orthorhombic
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Hardness: 3.5
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Cleavage: Perfect in two angles
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Fracture: Conchoidial
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Specific Gravity: Approximately 4.4
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Crystal Habits: Diamond shaped, wedge-like prisms sometimes modified with minor prismatic faces and terminated by a double triangle. Rarely in a perfectly smooth botryoidal habit, but commonly found with well formed double triangular crystal terminations that sparkle on the top of the "sub" botryoidal surface
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Uses: Mineral specimens
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Associated Minerals: Legrandite, Limonite, Smithsonite, Austinite, Paradamite, Aragonite, Calcite, Mimetite, Conichalcite
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Other Characteristics: Strongly fluoresces green in short and long UV light
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Notable Occurrences: Mapimi, Mexico; also Greece; California and Utah, USA
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Best Field Indicators: Crystal habit, color, luster, density, fluorescency
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