The formation and crystal chemistry of ternary clathrates in the Ba-Cu-Si system were investigated on a series of compounds Ba8Cux Si46-x (3 <= x <= 8). The phase diagram around the clathrate phase was constructed at 800A degrees C, revealing a homogeneity range from Ba8Cu3.4Si42.6 to Ba8Cu4.8Si41.2. Structural investigations confirmed that the clathrates in this system crystallize with cubic primitive symmetry, in the type I clathrate structure (space group Pm (3) over barn). Single-crystal x-ray diffraction indicates that the Cu atoms partially substitute for Si atoms on the 6d site; no vacancies are observed.