FORMULA: Zn₂AsO₄OH

LOCATION: Ojuela Mine, Durango, Mexico

Safety & Handling Warning: Adamite, January’s Rocks Box mineral, has the non-ideal combination of containing the element arsenic and being somewhat crumbly. This combination means that there are small health risks in handling the mineral.​ The dust from adamite samples can be toxic if inhaled or consumed. It’s important to wear gloves while handling it, or to wash your hands thoroughly afterward if you don’t wear gloves. Also, you should limit the spread of dust by keeping it in its container. With proper care, adamite is safe to have in your collection

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.