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Gemstone Crystal System Density Hardness Refractive index Treatments
Adamite orthorhombic 4.32-4.68 3.5 1.710-1.768 none known

 

adamite

Color:
Yellowish green, Yellow, Green, rarely violet and pink
Clarity: Transparent to Translucent
Optic Character:
DR, biaxialpositive and negative
Cause of Color: Zinc
Fluorescence: Very strong; phosphorescent
Fracture : Conchoidal, brittle
Luster : Adamantine
Cleavage :
Perfect in 2 directions
Durability:Poor
Localities:
Mexico, Greece, United States: California, Utah

Adamite
Zn2 (AsO4) (OH)

Adamite is very rarely seen as a gemstone. It is usually a collector's mineral. The primary source for gem quality adamite is the Ojeula Mine in Durango, Mexico. Mineralogically it is a secondary zinc mineral forming in hydrothermal deposits associated with arsenic. It was originally discovered in 1866.

Adamite is highly fluorescent. Below is a specimen featruning adamite (green) with hemimorphite (blue) viewed with LWUV.

adamite