mineral
Mica
Mica group (often Muscovite or Biotite)
Hardness 2-4 (Mohs), highly perfect basal cleavage forming thin flexible sheets, vitreous to pearly luster. Colors range from colorless, yellow, and silvery (muscovite) to dark green, brown, or black (biotite).
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Physical properties
Hardness 2-4 (Mohs), highly perfect basal cleavage forming thin flexible sheets, vitreous to pearly luster. Colors range from colorless, yellow, and silvery (muscovite) to dark green, brown, or black (biotite).
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Common in granites, pegmatites, and schists.
Uses & applications
Used in electronics as an insulator, in paints, cosmetics (for shimmer), and as windows in high-temperature stoves.
Geological facts
Mica gets its name from the Latin word 'micare', meaning to shine, flash, or glitter. Large sheets of mica were once used in Russia for windows, known as 'Muscovy glass'.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive prominent cleavage, allowing it to be split into extremely thin, flexible flakes. Very common globally.
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