Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
SIZE : 5,8 x 3,5 cm

This specimen is an adamite that is located on a brown-reddish limonite matrix. Adamite displays spherical aggregates (cf detail 1), pale yellow in colour, with a vitreous lustre. The whole sample measures 5.8 X 3.5 cm, the adamite cluster is 2.5 cm in diameter.

This adamite was acquired during a field trip by Professor Henri-Jean Schubnel of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in the USA in 1975. It comes from the Mapimi deposit in Mexico.

It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Adamite

HISTORY : Species dedicated to the French mineralogist Gilbert Joseph Adam (1795-1881)

Species first described in 1866 by Charles Friedel (1832-1899), French chemist and mineralogist

Type-locality: Chañarcillo, Chili
ANCIENT NAME : Adamine

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Zn2 (AsO4) (OH)
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Orthorhombic
COLOR : Green, yellow, colorless, white, blue, violett, pink
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Tabular crystals, prismatic. Sub-millimetric crystals, rarely centimetric, isometric aggregates, massive
HARDNESS : 3,5
DENSITY : 4,435-4,44

CHEMICAL CLASS : VII - Phosphates, arsenat
GROUP : Libethenite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 7/B.06-30
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 8.BB.30

Explore the Mineral Treasures of the Muséum

Welcome to
the Virtual Gallery of Mineralogy

Adamite

Adamite

MNHN N°175.247

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy