Shilovite
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About Shilovite
Formula:
Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2
Colour:
Deep violet blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.92 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Alexander Evgen’evich Shilov (Александр Евгеньевич Шилов) (6 January 1930, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, USSR - 6 June 2014, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, Russia), chemist, professors, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a specialist in biomimetics and the chemistry of nitrogen.
The first natural tetrammine copper complex.
Supergene mineral formed in the contact zone between a deeply altered guano deposit and chalcopyrite-bearing gabbro. Guano was the source of nitrogen and oxidized chalcopyrite was the source of Cu.
Chemically (in terms of elements) similar to other copper nitrates: gerhardtite, likasite, and rouaite.
Supergene mineral formed in the contact zone between a deeply altered guano deposit and chalcopyrite-bearing gabbro. Guano was the source of nitrogen and oxidized chalcopyrite was the source of Cu.
Chemically (in terms of elements) similar to other copper nitrates: gerhardtite, likasite, and rouaite.
Classification of Shilovite
Approved
Approval Year:
2014
Physical Properties of Shilovite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Deep violet blue
Streak:
violet blue and becomes light blue as a result of decomposition and loss of NH3
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
1.92 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Shilovite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.527(2) nβ = 1.545(5) nγ = 1.610(2)
2V:
Measured: 40° to 50°, Calculated: 57°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.083

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Chemical Properties of Shilovite
Formula:
Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe
Crystallography of Shilovite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pnn2
Setting:
Pnn2
Cell Parameters:
a = 23.6585(9) Å, b = 10.8238(4) Å, c = 6.9054(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.186 : 1 : 0.638
Unit Cell V:
1768.3 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Thick tabular to equant crystals up to 0.15 mm in size.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.931 | (41) |
5.841 | (100) |
5.208 | (47) |
4.162 | (88) |
4.005 | (62) |
3.462 | (50) |
3.207 | (32) |
2.881 | (40) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Type Occurrence of Shilovite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Imperfect, thick tabular to equant crystals up to 0.15 mm in size included in massive halite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, registration number 4542/1
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Guano deposit hosted in a chalcopyrite bearing gabbro.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Shilovite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Shilovite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Chukanov, N.V., Britvin, S.N., Möhn, G., Pekov, I.V., Zubkova, N.V., Nestola, F., Kasatkin, A.V. and Dini, M. (2014) Shilovite, IMA 2014-016. CNMNC Newsletter No. 21, August 2014, page 798; Mineralogical Magazine: 78: 797-804.
Chukanov, N.V., Britvin, S.N., Möhn, G., Pekov, I.V., Zubkova, N.V., Nestola, F., Kasatkin, A.V., Dini, M. (2015) Shilovite, natural copper(II) tetrammine nitrate, a new mineral species. Mineralogical Magazine: 79: 613-623.
Internet Links for Shilovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46139.html
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Localities for Shilovite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile (TL) | |
| Chukanov, N.V., Britvin, S.N., Mo¨hn, G., Pekov, I.V., Zubkova, N.V., Nestola, F., Kasatkin, A.V. and Dini, M. (2014) Shilovite, IMA 2014-016. CNMNC Newsletter No. 21, August 2014, page 798; Mineralogical Magazine, 78, 797-804.; Chukanov, N.V., Britvin, S.N., Möhn, G., Pekov, I.V., Zubkova, N.V., Nestola, F., Kasatkin, A.V., Dini, M. (2015): Shilovite, natural copper(II) tetrammine nitrate, a new mineral species. Mineralogical Magazine, 79, 613-623. |
Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile