Adamite facts for kids
Adamite is a fascinating mineral that comes in many different colors. You can find it in shades of yellow, purple, green, pink, or even yellowish-green. It is made from beautiful crystals. This mineral is quite delicate and easy to break. You can even scratch it with a copper penny! Adamite is also completely safe because it is not radioactive.
Contents
Discovering Adamite
Who Found It?
This mineral was named after Gilbert Joseph Adam (1795-1881). He was a French mineralogist, which is a scientist who studies minerals. Gilbert Adam was the person who first discovered this unique mineral.
Where Does It Come From?
Adamite is mostly found in the Atacama Desert in Chile. This desert is known for its very dry climate. You can also find Adamite in other places around the world.
What Makes Adamite Special?
Its Many Colors
One of the most exciting things about Adamite is its wide range of colors. Each color comes from different tiny elements mixed into the mineral. This makes every Adamite crystal a bit unique.
How Hard Is It?
Adamite is not a very hard mineral. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, it ranks quite low. This means it can be easily scratched by harder objects, like a copper penny. Its softness makes it interesting for collectors.
What Is It Used For?
Besides being a beautiful mineral for collectors, Adamite has other uses. It is sometimes used as a source for other commercial materials. This means it can be part of making different products.
Images for kids
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Adamite on limonite from the Gold Hill District Tooele County, Utah, USA - Scale at bottom is approx. 2.5 cm.
See also
In Spanish: Adamita para niños
