Shattuckite
Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameShattuckite
Chemical FormulaCu₅(SiO₃)₄(OH)₂
Mohs Hardness3.5
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorlight blue
Cleavagegood on {100}
Fractureuneven to conchoidal
Specific Gravity3.8
Colorsdeep blue, sky blue, dark blue
Transparencytranslucent to opaque
Type LocalityKaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usescollector, ornamental
Associated Mineralsquartz, malachite, chrysocolla, dioptase, plancheite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen showcases a cavity lined with vibrant deep blue, sparkling Shattuckite crystals, set within a light-colored, likely quartz, matrix. A small amount of green mineral, possibly malachite, is also visible.
Geological Context
Shattuckite is a secondary copper mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper ore deposits, typically in arid regions where copper-rich solutions interact with silica-bearing rocks.
