Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous vanadates
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : PbCu(VO₄)(OH)
    Rarity : Uncommon

Mottramite is a secondary vanadate coming from the oxidation zone of base metal deposits (Pb, Cu, etc...) containing vanadium. It constitutes the copper pole of the series that it forms with descloizite, with which it is very commonly associated. It owes its name to its place of discovery : Mottram (England). Greasy, transparent to almost opaque, mottramite is grass green to olive green in color. It forms millimeter-sized pyramidal or prismatic crystals according to [001], rarely tabular ; it sometimes appears in botryoidal masses with a fibrous structure, or in associated crystals with parallel growth and a tree-like appearance. It is one of the rare vanadium minerals and is therefore sometimes an ore of this metal.

Main photo : Mottramite from Tsumeb, Namibia © Gianfranco Ciccolini

No twin known for this mineral species. However, vanadinite, azurite, wulfenite, native copper, cerussite and galena pseudomorphs have been described in particular at Tsumeb.

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.