Shilovite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Shilovite
Alexander E. Shilov
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. Also the first ammine-nitrate mineral (compare pabellóndepicaite).
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.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46139
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46139:5
IMA Classification of Shilovite
Classification of Shilovite
5.NA.25
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Shil | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
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
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Low (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Chemistry of Shilovite
Mindat Formula:
Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2
Element Weights:
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 Å | (41) |
| 5.841 Å | (100) |
| 5.208 Å | (47) |
| 4.162 Å | (88) |
| 4.005 Å | (62) |
| 3.462 Å | (50) |
| 3.207 Å | (32) |
| 2.881 Å | (40) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
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
Other Language Names for Shilovite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.NA.05 | Nitratine | NaNO3 |
| 5.NA.10 | Niter | KNO3 |
| 5.NA.15 | Gwihabaite | (NH4,K)NO3 |
| 5.NA.20 | Nitrobarite | Ba(NO3)2 |
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.
Internet Links for Shilovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46139.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Shilovite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014, CNMNC Newsletter No 21. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (4) 797-804 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.4.03
Chukanov, Nikita V., Britvin, Sergey N., Möhn, Gerhard, Pekov, Igor V., Zubkova, Natalia V., Nestola, Fabrizio, Kasatkin, Anatoly V., Dini, Maurizio (2015) Shilovite, natural copper(II) tetrammine nitrate, a new mineral species. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (3) 613-623 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.3.07
Localities for Shilovite
Showing 1 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2014) +2 other references |
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Pabellón de Pica, Chanabaya, Iquique, Iquique Province, Tarapacá, Chile