Escherlike crystals of Adamite
Contributed by: Douglas Bank
Date: Mar 13th, 2026
Locality: Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Mapimí Municipality, Durango, Mexico (See on Mindat)
Size: 3.1 x 1.6 x 4.2 cm
Weight: 28.3 g
Description:
This is a nice little gemmy Adamite from the Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. It is pretty small, but it is impressive because there is very little matrix rock around it and the crystals seem to be clearer and larger than I am used to seeing. In fact, in regular light (and certainly when using a photo flash), it is hard to see the crystals and geometric patterns in the specimen. However, under shortwave light the patterns of crystals from large down to tiny come alive because the crystals become opaque. Admittedly, the photograph is probably more impressive than the specimen because it makes it a lot easier to see the details without sticking your eyeball right next to the UV light... The photos were taken with a Nikon D7100 camera with a Tokina 100mm Macro lens. The camera settings for the shortwave photo were ISO 160, 30 seconds at f/36 and the specimen was lit using a handheld SuperBright II. The white light picture was taken using a flash. The specimen does glow when exposed to the 365nm Convoy light, but not as intensely and the crystals are not as opaque.
Originally posted by Doug Bank on Nature's Rainbows.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Adamite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green