Shattuckite - Encyclopedia
Class : Silicates
Subclass : Inosilicates
Crystal system : Orthorhombic
Chemistry : Cu5(SiO3)4(OH)2
Rarity : Rare
Shattuckite is a relatively rare secondary copper silicate that has adopted the single-chain crystal structure of pyroxenes. It owes its name to its site of discovery : the Shattuck mine (Arizona, USA). It is frequently associated with chrysocolla and malachite in the oxidation zone of copper deposits in an arid climate. Shattuckite occurs mainly in acicular crystals not exceeding 2 mm united in fibroradiated spherolites, of pale blue to dark blue color. It is a mineral that is not used in any particular field.
Shattuckite in the World
The photo on the right presents a shattuckite specimen from Tantara Mine (Democratic Republic of Congo) © Rob Lavinsky.
Shattuckite in France
This mineral is not present in the French underground.
Twinning
No twin reported for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fake inventories for this mineral species.
Hardness : 3.5
Density : 4.12
Fracture : Irregular
Trace : Blue
TP : Translucent
RI : 1.753 to 1.815
Birefringence : 0.062
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Visible
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Hydrochloric acid
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None