Manganoan Adamite - image 1
Manganoan Adamite - image 2
Manganoan Adamite - image 3
Manganoan Adamite - image 4
Manganoan Adamite - image 5

Manganoan Adamite

Unknown Owner
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Purple adamites, once thought to be cobaltian but now known to be manganese-rich, are one of the rarest and most desirable of the sexy Ojuela Mine rarities. They simply blow away other adamites, in my opinion, and are the rarest style to own. Only a relatively few came out, several flats of good material with larger crystals in 1982; and then lesser finds over the years since. This is from the 1982 find with its characteristic white "roots" and lustrous, broad purple terminations. The tips are glassy and GEMMY. The whole lot was brought out by John Whitmire at the time and literally vaporised from his Tucson sales room on opening day. The adamite spray is very 3-Dimensional, has crystals all around like a flower, and displays wonderfully from ANY angle. The cluster is about 4.5 cm across, with individual crystals to 2.5 cm (one inch!). No damage. This is a solid small cabinet piece with attractive, unusually bubbly gossan matrix. Joe Budd photos. Reference: see also Gem & Crystal Treasures pp 128-131, Romero Book, and Mineralogical Record's Ojuela issue

Product details

SpeciesAdamite
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions7.0 x 5.6 x 4.8 cm
Added on10/23/2024

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2024Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
The ArkenstoneNot disclosed

Learn more

Adamite
Mineral guide
Learn about Adamite
zinc arsenate with vivid hues, sharp microcrystals on limonite, and bright UV fluorescence; prized by collectors from Ojuela, Tsumeb, and Lavrion.
Adamite
Regional guide
Adamite from Ojuela Mine, Mexico
Ojuela Mine, Mexico — adamite with yellow-green pinwheel crystals, blue cuprian and purple manganoan varieties, strong UV fluorescence, a top collector locality