mineral

Quartz with Muscovite Mica

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Potassium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2)

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) and 2-2.5 (Muscovite); Color: Clear to milky white quartz with golden-brown/silvery mica flakes; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Monoclinic; Cleavage: None for quartz, perfect basal for mica; Specific gravity: 2.65-2.8

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) and 2-2
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified May 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous pegmatites or metamorphic rocks through hydrothermal processes and cooling of silica-rich magma or regional metamorphism.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glassmaking, electronics (oscillators), and abrasives. Muscovite is used as an electrical insulator and in makeup for its pearly sheen. Both are popular with collectors as specimens.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's crust. Muscovite is sometimes known as 'isinglass' and was historically used as a heat-resistant material for windows in wood stoves.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by the high hardness of the quartz (scratches glass) and the thin, 'sheet-like' flaky nature of the mica. Commonly found in granitic outcrops and riverbeds near pegmatite veins.

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