Adamite
Adamite is secondary zinc arsenate, named in 1866 for the French mineralogist Gilbert-
Joseph Adam (1795-1881). It occurs in a number of deposits, usually as thin acicular
crystals in radiating tufts. It was originally described from Chanarcillo in Chile but has
later been found in a number of deposits, and particularly attractive specimens have been
found in Mina la Ojuela [Mapimi, Durango, Mexico] and in Tsumeb (Namibia). Adamite
forms a series with Olivenite, and particularly copper rich Adamite var. Cupro-adamite
occurs in very attractive specimens in Tsumeb.
Our records indicate that Adamite from a range of deposits occurs on specimens that
also carry one or more of the following minerals: Austinite, Calcite, Cerussite,
Dolomite, Goethite, Keyite, Lotharmeyerite, Malachite, Quartz, Siderite, Smithsonite
var. Fe-Smithsonite, Tennantite, and Willemite.
Specimen Handling
Adamite is for all practical purposes stable in a normal household environment. It is
generally not harmed by light, changes in temperature in the normal comfort range, or
known to decompose. The main exception seems to be, that purple Adamite crystals are
supposed to be prone to fade in sunlight. We do not have personal experiences, but this
information has been given to us by sources we consider reliable. Adamite specimens
can be brittle and should be handled with care like any other mineral specimen. Adamite
is not appreciably soluble in water.
Bibliography
Anthony, John Williams, Richard A. Bideaux, Kenneth W. Bladh & Monte C.
Nichols. 2000. Handbook of mineralogy, vol. 4
Bancroft, Peter. 1984. Gem & Crystal Treasures.
Blackburn, William H. & William H. Dennen. 1997. Encyclopedia of mineral
names. Canadian Mineralogist, special publication 1.
Gaines, Richard W., H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason,
Abraham Rosenzweig & Vandall T. King. 1997. Dana's new mineralogy: the
system of mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th
ed.
Gebhard, Georg. 1991. Tsumeb, eine deutsch-afrikanische Geschichte.
Gebhard, Georg. 1999. Tsumeb, a unique mineral locality.
Hintze, Carl (ed.) 1921-1931. Handbuch der Mineralogie, vol. 1, section 4, part
1.
Noe-Nygaard, Arne. 1966. Mineralogi, 3rd ed.
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel. 1951. The system of
mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University
1837-1892, 7th ed. Vol. 2.
Panczner, William D. 1987. Minerals of Mexico.
Ramdohr, Paul & Hugo Strunz. 1980. Klockmann's Lehrbuch der Mineralogie,
16th ed.
Roberts, Willard Lincoln, Thomas J. Campbell & George Robert Rapp jr. 1990.
Encyclopedia of Minerals 2nd ed.
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This page is authored by Claus Hedegaard.
