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Adamite

Zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral


Zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral

FieldValue
nameAdamite
categoryArsenate mineral
boxbgcolor#70883a
boxtextcolor#fff
imageAdamite-179841.jpg
captionYellow-green adamite in limonite
formulaZn2AsO4OH
IMAsymbolAd
strunz8.BB.30
dana41.06.06.03
Olivenite group
systemOrthorhombic
classDipyramidal (mmm)
H–M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
symmetryPnnm
colorPale yellow, honey-yellow, brownish yellow, reddish; rarely white, colorless, blue, pale green to green, may be zoned
habitWedge-like prisms typically in druses and radiating clusters; also smooth botryoidal masses
cleavage{101}, good; {010}, poor
fractureUneven to subconchoidal
tenacityBrittle
mohs3.5
lusterVitreous
refractivenα=1.708 – 1.722, nβ=1.742 – 1.744, nγ=1.763 – 1.773
opticalpropBiaxial (+/−)
birefringenceδ = 0.055
streakWhite to pale green
gravity4.32–4.48 measured
otherMay fluoresce and phosphoresce lemon-yellow under SW and LW UV.
references

Olivenite group H–M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)

Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral, Zn2AsO4OH. It is a mineral that typically occurs in the oxidized or weathered zone above zinc ore occurrences. Pure adamite is colorless, but usually it possess yellow color due to Fe compounds admixture. Tints of green also occur and are connected with copper substitutions in the mineral structure. Olivenite is a copper arsenate that is isostructural with adamite and there is considerable substitution between zinc and copper resulting in an intermediate called cuproadamite. Zincolivenite is an intermediate mineral with formula CuZn(AsO4)(OH). Manganese, cobalt, and nickel also substitute in the structure. Tarbuttite is an analogous zinc phosphate.

Occurrence

Adamite occurs as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of zinc- and arsenic-bearing hydrothermal mineral deposits. It occurs in association with smithsonite, hemimorphite, scorodite, olivenite, calcite, quartz and iron and manganese oxides.

The yellow to bright lime-green colored crystals and druze along with its distinctive fluorescence make adamite a favorite among mineral collectors. Found in Mapimí, Durango, Mexico; Greece; and California and Utah in the United States.

Adamite was named after the French mineralogist Gilbert-Joseph Adam (1795–1881). It was first described in 1866 for an occurrence at the type locality of Chañarcillo, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile.

References

References

  1. Warr, L. N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
  2. http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/adamite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. http://www.mindat.org/min-21.html Mindat.org
  4. http://webmineral.com/data/Adamite.shtml Webmineral data
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