55 - Mica muscovite

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Welcome to the Mineral Repository at the department of geology, Shivaji science college, Nagpur.  

My name is muscovite also referred as potash mica, fragile and shimmering member of the mica family known for my captivating beauty and unique occurrence. 70 to 80% mica of the world is mined in India out of which I am the most abundant one. Because of my perfect cleavage, I occur in thin, transparent, but durable sheets. I am a hydrated phyllosilicate mineral of aluminum and potassium. My name muscovite comes from Muscovy-glass, a name given to the mineral due to my use in medieval Russia as a cheaper alternative to glass in windows. i typically occur in metamorphic rocks, where I forms crystals and plates. I also occur in granites, in fine-grained sediments, and in some highly siliceous rocks. I am usually colorless but may be light gray, brown, pale green, or rose-red in color due to impurities and conditions. I am distinguished from other minerals by my pseudohexa-gonal crystal shape and perfect cleavage, which allows my crystals to be pulled apart into very thin elastic sheets. I am an economically important mineral because of my low iron content which makes me a good electrical and thermal insulator. I am also used in glass and ceramic industry and in fillers and paints.   

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