mineral

Muscovite Mica

Muscovite (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2)

Hardness: 2-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic (tabular/foliated); Cleavage: Perfect basal (can be peeled into thin sheets); Specific gravity: 2.76-3.0

Hardness: 2-2
Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified June 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous or metamorphic environments. It is a common constituent of granitic pegmatites, schists, and gneisses, often resulting from the metamorphism of argillaceous rocks.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as an electrical insulator in capacitors and high-voltage equipment, a lubricant, a filler in paints and plastics, and in cosmetics for pearlescent shimmer.

Geological facts

In early Russia, it was known as 'Muscovy glass' because it was used as a window material. It is heat resistant and transparent in thin sheets, making it ideal for ancient wood-stove windows.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its perfect cleavage that allows you to peel off thin, flexible, elastic sheets with a fingernail. Commonly found in mountainous regions globally, particularly in pegmatite veins.