Shattuckite

{{Short description|Copper silicate hydroxide mineral}}

{{Infobox mineral

| boxbgcolor = #52b5c4

| name = Shattuckite

| category = Inosilicate

| image = Shattuckite-rosa20d.jpg

| imagesize = 260px

| caption =

| strunz = 9.DB.40

| formula = Cu₅(SiO₃)₄(OH)₂

| IMAsymbol = Sha{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

| molweight =

| system = Orthorhombic

| class = Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)

| symmetry = Pcab

| color = Dark and light blue, turquoise

| habit = Commonly spherulitic aggregates of acicular crystals

| twinning =

| cleavage = perfect along [010] and [100]

| fracture = uneven

| mohs = 3.5

| luster = Dull to silky

| refractive = n_α = 1.753, n_β = 1.782, n_γ = 1.815

| opticalprop = Biaxial (+)

| birefringence =

| pleochroism = X = very pale blue; Y = pale blue; Z = deep blue

| streak = Blue

| gravity = 4.1 (rather heavy for a non-metallic mineral)

| melt =

| fusibility =

| diagnostic =

| solubility =

| diaphaneity = Translucent to opaque

| other =

| references = [http://webmineral.com/data/Shattuckite.shtml Shattuckite]. Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.[http://www.mindat.org/min-3634.html Shattuckite]. Mindat.org (2011-09-08). Retrieved on 2011-10-10.[http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/shattuckite.pdf Shattuckite]. Handbook of Mineralogy. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-10-10.

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.minerals.net/mineral/shattuckite.aspx|title=Shattuckite: The blue mineral shattuckite information and pictures}}