mineral

Mica (Muscovite)

Muscovite (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2)

Hardness: 2-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown; Luster: Pearly to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic (tabular/platy); Cleavage: Perfect basal (peels into thin sheets); Specific Gravity: 2.76-3.0

Hardness: 2-2
Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown
Luster: Pearly to vitreous

Identified May 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous rocks like pegmatites and granites, or metamorphic rocks like schists and gneisses through the alteration of orthoclase or other minerals under high heat and pressure.

Uses & applications

Used as an electrical insulator in electronics, as a heat-resistant window material in high-temperature furnaces, and in cosmetics and paint for its pearlescent shimmer.

Geological facts

Formerly known as 'Muscovy glass' because it was used as a cheap alternative to glass for windows in Russia. It is one of the most common members of the mica group.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its distinct ability to be peeled into flexible, elastic, paper-thin translucent sheets. Common globally in metamorphic terrains.