mineral
Muscovite Mica
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 2.0-2.5; Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage (peels into thin sheets); Specific Gravity: 2.76-3.00
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-2.5; Color: Colorless, silvery-white, or light brown; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage (peels into thin sheets); Specific Gravity: 2.76-3.00
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous rocks like granites and pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses through hydrothermal or metamorphic processes.
Uses & applications
Used as an electrical insulator, in paints, cosmetics (for shimmer), joint compounds, and as a heat-resistant window material in old stoves (isinglass).
Geological facts
Muscovite is also known as common mica or potash mica. Large sheets were used as window panes in Russia, giving it the name 'Muscovy Glass'.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its characteristic 'books' of sheets that can be easily peeled with a fingernail. Found globally, especially in mica-rich schists in Brazil, India, and the USA (North Carolina).
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Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous