Adamite

specimen number:
2072275

location:
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

description:
Lustrous blocky yellow green crystals of adamite on matrix. In good condition.

The Ojuela Mine, located near the town of Mapimi in Durango, Mexico, is globally recognized as one of the most significant localities for secondary lead and zinc minerals. Geologically, the deposit is a massive replacement body hosted within Cretaceous limestones and shales, where ore was deposited in chimneys and mantos by hydrothermal fluids. The mine is most famous for its world-class adamite specimens, which typically occur as vibrant lime-green, yellow, or purple botryoidal crusts and pinwheel-like crystal sprays within a rusty limonite matrix. Historically, the mine was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1598, making it one of the oldest formal mines in the Americas. It saw massive industrial development under the Penoles company starting in the late 19th century, with a peak production period between 1890 and 1930 that included the construction of the famous Puente de Ojuela suspension bridge. While large-scale commercial extraction for lead, zinc, and silver ceased around 1932 due to flooding and depleted primary ores, the mine has remained continuously active for nearly a century as a dedicated specimen mine. Today, a cooperative of local miners continues to recover museum-quality adamite, ensuring the Ojuela Mine remains a primary contributor to the international mineralogical community.

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