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Formula: Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2
Valence: Cu2+(N3-H3)4(N5+O3)2
Copper ammine nitrate
The first natural tetrammine copper complex. Also the first ammine-nitrate mineral.
The ammine complex is metal in complex with NH3. As of
September 2023 there were five known ammine complex bearing minerals, shilovite,
chanabayaite, joanneumite,
ammineite and triazolite
(Mindat).
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 1.92 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: Violet-blue
Colour: Deep violet-blue
Solubility: Soluble in water
Common impurities: Fe
Environments
Shilovite was approved in 2014, and to date (March 2026) it has been reported only from the type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile, shilovite, the
first natural tetrammine copper complex, was found in a guano deposit. It is associated with
halite, ammineite,
atacamite (a product of
ammineite alteration) and
thénardite. The gabbro host
rock consists of amphibole,
plagioclase and minor
clinochlore, and contains accessory
chalcopyrite. The last is considered the source of Cu for
shilovite. The shilovite occurs as deep violet blue, imperfect, thick tabular to equant crystals up to
0.15 mm in size included in massive halite
(MM 79.3.613-623).
Shilovite from Pabellón de Pica - Image
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