metamorphic
Quartz-Mica Schist (with Muscovite)
Metamorphic Rock (Quartz, Muscovite, Feldspar)
Hardness varies from 2.5 to 3 (muscovite) and 7 (quartz). Color is off-white to silvery-grey with brilliant metallic glints. Pearly to vitreous luster, platy/foliated texture due to layered mica flakes.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies from 2.5 to 3 (muscovite) and 7 (quartz). Color is off-white to silvery-grey with brilliant metallic glints. Pearly to vitreous luster, platy/foliated texture due to layered mica flakes.
Formation & geological history
Formed through regional metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks like shale or siltstone under moderate temperatures and pressures, causing minerals to recrystallize into parallel layers.
Uses & applications
Used occasionally as decorative stone, building material, and in landscaping. Muscovite mica extracted from rich deposits is used in electrical insulation, cosmetics, and paints.
Geological facts
The shiny, reflective flakes are muscovite mica, which cleaves into extremely thin, flexible, transparent sheets. Historically, large sheets of muscovite were used as heat-resistant windows in stoves and kilns (isunglass).
Field identification & locations
Identified by its shiny, silvery mica flakes embedded within a whitish, quartz-rich rounded pebble matrix. Commonly found along riverbeds, glaciated regions, and metamorphic terranes worldwide.
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