Manganese-bearing Adamite

Item Description

Purple Adamites from the Ojuela Mine are one of Mexico's most rare and classic of minerals. Unique in the mineral world, pockets of this scarce material have been seldom found in the nearly 100 years of mineral production at Ojuela, with the best production being during the 1980s. This small-cabinet specimen contains several crystals, the largest of which is is about 1 cm. The purple terminations are the immediate calling card for the Manganoan variety, and the sharp, chisel-head habit is classic for the species, in general. This mine is very well known for its Adamite specimens, but it is the highly sought-after Manganoan variety found here that makes it such a significant locality. Prized by collectors, these are simply unavailable on the market today, and this specimen is a good, representative piece for this famous variety of Adamite. Interestingly they were first thought to be cobalt rich but later shown to be manganese rich.