Luddenite

luddenite

alamosite

melanotekite

wickenburgite

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Formula: Cu₂Pb₂Si₅O₁₄.14H₂O
Unclassified silicate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 4.45 measured, 4.98 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Pale nickel green
Colour: Green
Solubility: Luddenite is not easily soluble in acids. Dissolution even in heated 50% HNO₃ is slow. It readily fuses to a runny lemon yellow slag in the closed tube (Mindat).
Common impurities: Ti
Environments:

Hydrothermal environments

Luddenite occurs in thoroughly oxidised lead-copper sulphide ores, associated with galena, chalcopyrite, fluorite, quartz, alamosite, melanotekite, cerussite, chalcocite, shattuckite, chrysocolla and wickenburgite (HOM).

At the type locality, an unnamed prospect near Artillery Peak, Mohave county, Arizona, USA, luddenite occurs with galena, chalcopyrite, fluorite, alamosite, melanotekite and hyalotekite (Dana, AM 68.643).

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