Shattuckite

shattuckite

ajoite

malachite

chrysocolla

Images

Formula: Cu5(SiO3)4(OH)2
Inosilicate (chain silicate)
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 4.11 measured, 4.128 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Pale blue
Colour: Light to dark blue
Common impurities: Fe,Mn,Mg,Ca,H2O
Environments

Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments

Shattuckite is a rare secondary mineral that is formed in arid conditions by the oxidation of copper deposits, commonly associated with chrysocolla, ajoite, malachite, quartz, and hematite HOM. It also develops in the zone of alteration in massive and disseminated hydrothermal replacement deposits. (Audubon).

Localities

At the M'sesa Mine, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, shattuckite pseudomorphs after cuprite have been found (KL p231).

At the Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, shattuckite pseudomorphs after calcite have been found with dioptase (KL p230).

At the Mashamba West mine, Kolwezi District, Katanga, DR Congo: Unusual pseudomorphs of shattuckite after cuprite have been found (R&M 84.6.544-540).

At the Sanda mine at Mindouli, Poole Department, DR Congo, shattuckite occurs with dioptase (R&M 84-6.544-540 Connoisseur's Choice).

At Munihuaza, near Álamos, Álamos Municipality, Sonora, Mexico, shattuckite occurs in massive fibrous pods locally containing native gold (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At the Milpillas Mine, Milpillas, Santa Cruz Municipality, Sonora, Mexico, sparkling blue specimens of shattuckite have been found with minor green malachite and dioptase. The sparkle comes from uniform coatings of quartz, microcrystals over the surfaces of the shattuckite (MinRec 55.1.83).

At the Omaue mine, Kanini Region, Namibia, shattuckite is occasionally associated dioptase and malachite. Cavities are lined with quartz crystals thickly included with shattuckite. The oxide zone paragenesis here includes at least two generations of dioptase, the first associated with chalcocite, followed by chrysocolla, plancheite, shattuckite and, finally, late-stage dioptase. namibite and mottramite variety duhamelite occur with shattuckite, and apachite occurs with late generation chrysocolla as a partial oxidation of shattuckite. The apachite is associated with brochantite in sandstone, and with malachite in limestone (R&M 84-6.544-540.

At Farm Mesopotamia 504, Khorixas District, Kunene region, Namibia, shattuckite occurs associated with plancheite (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia, shattuckite occurs in the second oxidation zone associated with plancheite, malachite and chrysocolla (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At the Messina mine, Mpulmalanga Province, South Africa, shattuckite occurs as blue inclusions in quartz crystals (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At the type locality, the Shattuck mine, Bisbee, Warren District, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, shattuckite occurs as pseudomorphs after malachite and associated with chrysocolla variety bisbeeite, which replaces it (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At the New Cornelia mine, Ajo District, Pima county, Arizona, USA, voids host acicular tuffs of shattuckite some partially altered to chrysocolla variety bisbeeite. The shattuckite is associated with quartz, calcite, conichalcite, olivenite, ajoite, chrysocolla, and plancheite (R&M 84-6.544-540). ajoite is intergrown with shattuckite as are quartz and hematite (AM49.1234-1239).

At Artillery Peak, Mohave County, Arizona, USA, shattuckite occurs in oxidised ores with alamosite and luddenite (R&M 84-6.544-540 Connoisseur's Choice).

Moon Anchor mine and the Potter-Cramer property, south of Wickenburg, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA: Shattuckite has been found in the oxide zone assemblage, together with wickenburgite and phoenicochroite. (R&M 84-6.544-540).

At the Betty Jo claim, 8 miles southeast of Ely, White Pine County, Nevada, USA, shattuckite occurs with mimetite, pyromorphite and chrysocolla (R&M 84-6.544-540).

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