Adamite

specimen number:
2072230

location:
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

description:
Greenish yellow sparkling crystallized adamite covering the top of matrix.

The Ojuela Mine, located near Mapimi in Durango, Mexico, is a world-class mineral locality situated within a massive carbonate-replacement deposit. Geologically, it consists of a complex network of oxidized lead-zinc-silver ore bodies hosted in Cretaceous limestones, where hydrothermal fluids created extensive cavernous structures. The mine is most famous for its incredible specimens of adamite, a secondary zinc arsenate that occurs here in a variety of vibrant colors, including neon green (cuprian), purple (manganian), and honey-yellow. Historically, the mine was discovered by the Spanish in 1598 and saw its most significant industrial development under the Compania Minera de Penoles starting in the late 19th century. Large-scale commercial mining for base metals reached its peak in the early 20th century, notably supported by the famous Puente de Ojuela suspension bridge built in 1898. While industrial production largely ceased by the 1940s due to flooding and ore depletion, the mine has remained active for nearly a century as a specialized source for mineral specimens. Today, local miners known as gambusinos continue to explore its deep levels to recover the world-renowned adamite clusters that define the site's modern legacy.

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