Shattuckite

Shattuckite is a copper silicate hydroxide mineral with formula Cu5(SiO3)4(OH)2. It crystallizes in the 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 with malachite, about 4 cm wide. Kaokoveld Mine, NamibiaShattuckite 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 colorBotryoidal balls of shattuckite, from the Kaokoveld Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, NamibiaPolished shattuckite with malachite, New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Arizona. Size 5.3×5.1×5.0 cm Shattuckite is a copper silicate hydroxide mineral with formula Cu5(SiO3)4(OH)2. It crystallizes in the 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.