A very rare specimen of a type not often found here, featuring a stunning spray of lustrous, yellow-green crystals of unusual size. Marty had a half dozen or so of these, all of which I bought. This one features large, lustrous crystals to a whopping 4 cm-plus perched nicely on matrix, and complete all around. It is a dramatic display-quality miniature of great import for the species and locality . Marty's collection was world-famous for his suite of Mexican minerals but of those he was most proud of and dedicated to building the adamite suite. This is a significant pedigree for a Mexican adamite, but its a quality piece in and of itself, as well.

Purple adamites, once thought to be cobaltian but now known to be manganese-rich, are one of the rarest and most desirable of the sexy Ojuela Mine rarities. They simply blow away other adamites, in my opinion, and are the rarest style to own. Only a relatively few came out, several flats of good material with larger crystals in 1982; and then lesser finds over the years since. This is from the 1982 find with its characteristic white "roots" and lustrous, broad purple terminations. The tips are glassy and GEMMY. The whole lot was brought out by John Whitmire at the time and literally vaporised from his Tucson sales room on opening day. The adamite spray is very 3-Dimensional, has crystals all around like a flower, and displays wonderfully from ANY angle. The cluster is about 4.5 cm across, with individual crystals to 2.5 cm (one inch!). No damage. This is a solid small cabinet piece with attractive, unusually bubbly gossan matrix. Joe Budd photos. Reference: see also Gem & Crystal Treasures pp 128-131, Romero Book , and Mineralogical Record's Ojuela issue