Shattuckite is a beautiful secondary copper mineral known for its vibrant blue color, often forming crusts or radial botryoidal clusters. It is frequently associated with other copper minerals like malachite and chrysocolla, making it highly prized by lapidary artists for its striking patterns when polished.
Is this shattuckite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch shattuckite with a known reference. Shattuckite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Shattuckite leaves a blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Shattuckite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, greenish-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous, massive, botryoidal, spherical aggregates.
Often confused with
Shattuckite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Shattuckite leaves blue, Chrysocolla leaves white; luster reads dull on Shattuckite and vitreous on Chrysocolla.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Shattuckite leaves blue, Azurite leaves light blue; luster reads dull on Shattuckite and vitreous to dull on Azurite.
How to tell apart: Plancheite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Shattuckite leaves blue, Plancheite leaves light blue; luster reads dull on Shattuckite and silky on Plancheite.
Often found alongside shattuckite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shattuckite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₅(SiO₃)₄(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Blue
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, Massive, Botryoidal, Spherical Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Ornamental
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-200 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find shattuckite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
- Katanga, DR Congo
- Milpillas Mine, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper deposits country — that is the host setting where shattuckite typically forms. If you start seeing malachite, chrysocolla, ajoite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, massive, botryoidal, spherical aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify shattuckite?+
Where is shattuckite found?+
How much is shattuckite worth?+
Is shattuckite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like shattuckite?+
What minerals are found with shattuckite?+
What kind of rock does shattuckite form in?+
What is shattuckite used for?+
Find shattuckite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
