FORMULA: Zn2AsO4OH
LOCATION: Ojuela Mine, Durango, Mexico
Adamite is a mineral that comes in a variety of colors, from pale yellow or green to lovely oceany hues. And these pretty crystals are only produced thanks to a sort of geological recycling trick. Some minerals called secondary minerals are only made when an original material is exposed to oxygen, water, or other surface conditions, and adamite is one of those minerals. It forms when zinc and arsenic-rich hydrothermal deposits reach the surface and get exposed to oxygen.
These particular pieces of adamite come from a mine with its own incredible story, too. The Ojuela Mine in Durango, Mexico was once a major supplier of gold and silver. However, it’s now renowned for its stunning array of secondary minerals, including this gorgeous hunk of adamite.