Mottramite
A variety of Adelite-descloizite Group
What is Mottramite?
Mottramite is a unique mineral regarded for its yellow-green and brown bumpy appearance. It is relatively brittle and nearly opaque in color. This mineral is a secondary mineral usually found with vanadium in oxidized zones, which means that those areas have been exposed to water containing oxygen and other gases and have been subjected to other chemical reactions.
Uses & Applications
Mottramite forms in the oxidized portions of copper-lead deposits, making it an occasional ore for lead and copper. Both metals are essential for a wide variety of industries and applications, which makes mottramite valuable. This mineral is also occasionally cut into gemstones and sought after for mineral collections.
Mottramite Market Value Calculator
Estimate the market value of Mottramite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.
Mottramite Localities Map
See where Mottramite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Characteristics of Mottramite
No cleavage has been observed. The mineral is brittle and breaks with a subconchoidal to uneven fracture. It is quite soft, with Mohs hardness 3 to 3 ⁄2, just a little harder than calcite. The hardness is slightly greater on crystal surfaces. It is a heavy mineral, with specific gravity 5.9, because of the lead content. It is readily soluble in acids.
Appearance of Mottramite
Drusy crusts of tiny intergrown crystals are common, also encrustations and mammillary or botryoidal surfaces. The crystals are equant dipyramids or prisms parallel to the c crystal axis, but always microscopic. The colour is various shades of green, yellow-green, blackish brown or nearly black. Crystals often grow step by step, with the different steps or zones having different colours. The streak is yellowish green, or yellow, and the crystals are transparent to opaque, with a greasy lustre.
Formation of Mottramite
The type locality is Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, England, UK and type material is conserved at the Natural History Museum, London 52314-52315. Mottramite is a secondary, supergene mineral found principally in the oxidized zones of vanadium bearing base metal deposits, especially sandstones. Associated minerals are descloizite, duftite, mimetite, wulfenite, cerussite, azurite and dioptase.
Health & Safety Information
- ⚠️Harm Reason: Mottramite dust is toxic because it contains heavy metals Lead, Copper, Vanadium.
- ⚠️Heavy Metal: Lead, Copper, Vanadium
- ⚠️How to prevent the risks of Mottramite?
More Images
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Grass-green, olive-green, yellow-green, siskin-green, blackish brown, nearly black
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3 - 3.5
- Density
- 6.187 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish green
- Luster
- Greasy
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- PbCu(VO4)(OH)
- Elements
- Cu, H, O, Pb, V
Also Known As
Identify Mottramite Instantly
- Snap a photo, get instant results
- 6,700+ rocks, minerals & crystals
- Discover collecting spots near you
