How much does Adamite cost?

Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide that forms in the oxidized zone of zinc ore deposits. Its vivid yellow-green color (which can reach almost neon intensity) comes from a combination of the zinc-arsenate chemistry and sometimes trace copper or cobalt.

The most extraordinary adamite variety is 'cuprian adamite' from the Ojuela Mine in Mexico - copper substituting for some of the zinc produces a vivid purple color that's among the most striking in the mineral kingdom. Finding vivid purple and neon green adamite growing together on the same specimen is one of the great visual thrills in mineral collecting.

Adamite also fluoresces bright green under ultraviolet light, adding another visual dimension to an already spectacular mineral. Named after French mineralogist Gilbert-Joseph Adam, adamite is a relatively rare mineral that has achieved outsized collector popularity thanks to the extraordinary specimens from Mapimi. SAFETY NOTE: Contains arsenic. Handle with care.

Identification Guide

Adamite is identified by its vivid yellow-green (or purple in cuprian variety) color, small prismatic to wedge-shaped crystals, and bright green UV fluorescence. At hardness 3.5, it's soft.

Distinguish from smithsonite (similar zinc deposit origin but carbonate, different forms), hemimorphite (zinc silicate, different crystal habit), and olivenite (copper arsenate, different color). Adamite's specific vivid yellow-green with UV fluorescence is diagnostic.

Spotting Fakes

Adamite is a specialist mineral not commonly faked. Ojuela Mine specimens are the gold standard and command premium prices. As with all arsenate minerals, the concern is safe handling. Display in enclosed cases, wash hands after handling, and never make gem elixirs.

Some links in this post go to Amazon. Crystal Almanac earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Tools recommended here are ones we would use ourselves to run the tests described - the recommendation comes first, the link is downstream of it.

Verify Adamite Before You Buy

Affiliate picks

Adamite gets imitated with glass, dyed stand-ins, and cheaper lookalikes. These four tools run the checks in the Spotting Fakes section above, so you can tell real from fake before you pay - online, at a show, or in a shop.

10x triplet jeweler's loupe$20-40
The first tool worth owning. Round gas bubbles (glass), dye pooled in cracks (dyed howlite, magnesite, agate), and flow lines are invisible to the naked eye and obvious at 10x. A triplet lens keeps the edges sharp.
Shop on Amazon
Mohs hardness pick set~$40
Calibrated picks settle the cheap swaps in seconds - howlite (3.5) sold as turquoise (5-6), glass (5.5) sold as quartz (7). Faster and more accurate than the fingernail-and-knife method.
Shop on Amazon
0.01g digital pocket scale~$15
Density catches what the eye misses. A glass 'quartz' weighs suspiciously light; lead-loaded plastic 'lapis' weighs suspiciously heavy. Weigh, compare to the known density, and flag the mismatch before the money leaves your hand.
Shop on Amazon
365nm UV flashlight$20-30
Many stones have a distinctive fluorescence (hyalite opal, fluorite, ruby, scheelite). A longwave UV light is the fastest tiebreaker when a piece passes the other tests but still looks off.
Shop on Amazon

Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions

Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence

Adamite has no traditional metaphysical history. Modern practitioners who work with it associate its vivid color with emotional courage, creative energy, and finding joy. The cuprian variety's purple connects it to spiritual insight. NOTE: Contains arsenic. Strictly a display mineral, not for carrying or body contact.

Metaphysical and “healing” associations are cultural traditions, not medical advice or scientific fact. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical care.

ChakraHeart ChakraSolar Plexus ZodiacCancer ElementFire ElementEarth

Where It's Found

Mexico - Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango

World's finest specimens, all color varieties

Greece - Lavrion

Good quality cuprian (purple) specimens

Namibia - Tsumeb

Fine specimens alongside other secondaries

United States - Utah, Nevada

Some specimens from oxidized zinc deposits

Price Guide

Entry$10-40 small crystal groups

Mid-Range$40-200 quality green specimens

Collector$200-3,000+ cuprian purple or exceptional Ojuela specimens

Good to Know

💎

Scratch test: At hardness 3.5, Adamite can be scratched with a copper coin. Handle gently and keep away from harder stones in your collection.

🌍

Global supply: Found in 4 notable locations worldwide, from Mexico to United States.

⚖️

Heft test: Adamite has a specific gravity of 4.34 - noticeably heavier than quartz. You'll feel the density when you pick it up.

Care & Safety

What adamite can and cannot tolerate, based on its hardness (Mohs 3.5) and chemistry (Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH)).

Can Adamite go in water?

Not recommended. Adamite can react with water, absorb moisture, or degrade with wet contact. Clean it with a dry or barely damp cloth and dry it immediately. Important: adamite contains arsenic. Never use it for gem elixirs or crystal-infused water, and wash your hands after handling it.

Can Adamite go in salt water?

No. Adamite should stay away from water in general, and salt water is worse on every count: dissolved salt is corrosive while the stone is wet, and abrasive salt crystals are left behind in cracks and crevices as it dries.

Water safety for every stone →Full crystal care guide →