Adamite (Copper-bearing) with Calcite

Item Description

The Ojuela Mine in Mapimi, Mexico is certainly one of the top specimen-producing mines in the entire country. I think a strong argument can be made that it is THE most significant mineral-producing locality in Mexico. The article written by Tom Moore in the Mineralogical Record about this mine states that the locality was, "Discovered by the Spanish in 1598, the deposit was actively mined for 350 years, but did not come to the notice of mineralogists until W.E Foshag's visit in 1927." With that said, for decades we've seen superb quality minerals coming out of Ojuela and without question, the finest examples of Adamite ever seen have come from the prolific locality. Not only are the crystals themselves superb for the species, but the Adamites occur in a myriad of colors due to various chromophores. One of the most famous Adamite varieties from this mine are the beautiful copper-bearing crystals, with gorgeous green/blue hues. This attractive small cabinet specimen features vitreous, fine quality, sharp, blocky, well-formed, vibrant greenish-blue colored copper-bearing Adamite crystals measuring up to 1.1 cm, associated gemmy, translucent, white/colorless scalenohedral crystals Calcite on Limonite matrix. No major damage that I can see, and the piece is beautiful in person. The Adamites look great up close, and you have to look back into the vug to see the largest Adamite crystal, as it's somewhat "tucked" back. An eye-catching example of this truly classic material. Valued $1500