The facts
What adamite actually is
Adamite is classified as adamite, with the composition Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH). It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from cu²⁺ for green (cuproadamite), Co²⁺ for violet-pink; pure adamite is yellow from trace uranium and fluoresces bright green, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.708–1.773. Specific gravity around 4.32–4.48. Cleavage: good {101}, poor {010}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where adamite comes from
Adamite is produced at Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico, Tsumeb, Namibia, Laurion, Greece and Cap Garonne, Var, France.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How adamite is treated
Untreated. Mapimí is the source of nearly all display specimens; the brilliant green UV fluorescence of yellow adamite is characteristic. An arsenate — handle with clean hands and do not lick-test.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What adamite is confused with
In the trade adamite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Legrandite, Olivenite, Conichalcite or Mimetite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.708–1.773 and specific gravity 4.32–4.48 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What adamite is used for
Demand for adamite comes from mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 3.5; cleavage good {101}, poor {010}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What adamite costs
As a guide, adamite trades around Specimens $30–$2,500.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is adamite treated, and how?
Untreated. Mapimí is the source of nearly all display specimens; the brilliant green UV fluorescence of yellow adamite is characteristic. An arsenate — handle with clean hands and do not lick-test.
Where does adamite come from?
Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico, Tsumeb, Namibia, Laurion, Greece and Cap Garonne, Var, France. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is adamite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does adamite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$2,500. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is adamite confused with?
Most often Legrandite, Olivenite, Conichalcite and Mimetite. A refractive index of 1.708–1.773 and a specific gravity near 4.32–4.48 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for adamite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about adamite