The facts
What shattuckite actually is
The species behind shattuckite is shattuckite, Cu₅(SiO₃)₄(OH)₂; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Cu²⁺ is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.752–1.815 and a specific gravity of about 3.80–4.15, with perfect {010} and {100} cleavage.
Where shattuckite comes from
Commercial material comes from Shattuck Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA (type locality), Tsumeb, Namibia and Milpillas Mine, Sonora, Mexico.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How shattuckite is treated
Untreated, sometimes resin-stabilised. Too soft for rings; cut as cabochons, often intergrown with malachite, chrysocolla or quartz. Routinely confused with plancheite, which is a genuinely difficult separation without laboratory work.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What shattuckite is confused with
Watch for Plancheite, Azurite, Chrysocolla, Lapis lazuli and Dyed howlite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.752–1.815 and specific gravity 3.80–4.15 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What shattuckite is used for
The trades that buy shattuckite are jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 3.5–4; cleavage perfect {010} and {100}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What shattuckite costs
Expect roughly $2–40/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is shattuckite treated, and how?
Untreated, sometimes resin-stabilised. Too soft for rings; cut as cabochons, often intergrown with malachite, chrysocolla or quartz. Routinely confused with plancheite, which is a genuinely difficult separation without laboratory work.
Where does shattuckite come from?
Shattuck Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA (type locality), Tsumeb, Namibia and Milpillas Mine, Sonora, Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is shattuckite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does shattuckite cost?
Indicatively $2–40/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is shattuckite confused with?
Most often Plancheite, Azurite, Chrysocolla, Lapis lazuli and Dyed howlite. A refractive index of 1.752–1.815 and a specific gravity near 3.80–4.15 separate it quickly.
What is shattuckite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for shattuckite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about shattuckite