Shattuckite
| Shattuckite | ||
|---|---|---|
Specific gravity 4.1 (rather heavy for a non-metallic mineral) | | |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) | |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.753, nβ = 1.782, nγ = 1.815 | |
| Pleochroism | X = very pale blue; Y = pale blue; Z = deep blue | |
| References | [2][3][4] | |
Shattuckite is a
orthorhombic – dipyramidal crystal system and usually occurs in a granular massive form and also as fibrous acicular crystals. It is closely allied to plancheite
in structure and appearance.
Shattuckite is a relatively rare copper silicate mineral. It was first discovered in 1915 in the copper mines of Bisbee, Arizona, specifically the Shattuck Mine (hence the name). It is a secondary mineral that forms from the alteration of other secondary minerals. At the Shattuck Mine, it forms pseudomorphs after malachite. A pseudomorph is an atom by atom replacement of a crystal structure by another crystal structure, but with little alteration of the outward shape of the original crystal. It is sometimes used as a gemstone.[5]
Gallery
-
Shattuckite with malachite, about 4 cm wide. Kaokoveld Mine, Namibia -
Shattuckite crystals form concentric circular clusters of spraying, elongated, acicular crystals. Associated with them are small bits of contrasting primary malachite crystals in a deep green color -
Botryoidal balls of shattuckite, from the Kaokoveld Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia -
Polished shattuckite with malachite, New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Arizona. Size 5.3 × 5.1 × 5.0 cm
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shattuckite.
- S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Shattuckite. Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
- ^ Shattuckite. Mindat.org (2011-09-08). Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
- ^ Shattuckite. Handbook of Mineralogy. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
- ^ "Shattuckite: The blue mineral shattuckite information and pictures".
 | This article about a specific silicate mineral is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |