Mica

For other uses, see Mica (disambiguation).

Rock with mica

Mica sheet

Mica flakes

The word "mica" is thought to be derived from the Latin word micare, meaning to shine, in reference to the brilliant appearance of this mineral (especially when in small scales).

Mica classification

Chemically micas can be given the general formula:

X₂Y_4-6Z₈O₂₀(OH,F)₄

in which X is K, Na, or Ca or less commonly Ba, Rb, or Cs

Y is Al, Mg or Fe or less commonly Mn, Cr, Ti, Li, etc

Z is chiefly Si or Al but also may include Fe³⁺ or Ti

Structurally the micas can be classed as di-octahedral (Y = 4) and tri-octahedral (Y = 6). Also if the X ion is K or Na the mica is a common mica whereas if the X ion is Ca the mica is classed as a brittle mica. (Deer p196-197)

Di-octahedral micas

Common micas:

• Muscovite
• Paragonite
• Glauconite

Brittle micas:

• Margarite

Tri-octahedral micas

Common micas:

• Phlogopite
• Biotite
• Zinnwaldite
• Lepidolite

Brittle micas

• Clintonite

(Deer p197)

Interlayer deficient micas

Very fine grained micas with typically more variation in ion and water content are informally termed clay micas and include:

• hydro-muscovite with H₃⁺ along with K in the X site.
• Illite with a K deficiency in the X site and correspondingly more Si in the Z site.
• Phengite with Mg or Fe²⁺ substituting for Al in the Y site and a corresponding increase in Si in the Z site.

(Deer p260-261)

Occurrence

Micas are widely distributed and occur in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary regimes. Large crystals of mica used for various applications are typically mined from granitic pegmatites.

Until the 19th century, large crystals of mica were quite rare and expensive as a result of the limited supply in Europe. However, its price dramatically dropped when large reserves were found and mined in Africa and South America after the early 19th century.

Scrap and flake mica is produced all over the world. The flake mica comes from several sources: the metamorphic rock called schist as a by-product of processing feldspar and kaolin resources, from placer deposits, and from pegmatites. Major producers of flake mica are Canada, India, Finland, and Japan. Sheet mica is considerably less abundant than flake and scrap mica. Sheet mica is occasionally recovered from mining scrap and flake mica. The most important sources of sheet mica are the pegmatite deposits. Major sheet mica mining countries are India, Belgium, Germany and China.

Properties and uses

Mica has a high dielectric strength and excellent chemical stability, making it a favored material for manufacturing capacitors for radio frequency applications. It has also been used as an insulator in high voltage electrical equipment. It is also birefringent and is commonly used to make quarter and half wave plates.

Because mica is resistant to heat it is used instead of glass in windows for stoves and kerosene heaters.

Illites or clay micas have a low cation exchange capacity for 2:1 clays. K+ ions between layers of mica prevent swelling by blocking water molecules.

Aventurine is a variety of quartz with mica inclusions used as a gemstone.

Mica in ancient times

Hand carved from mica from the Hopewell culture

Human use of mica dates back to pre-historic times, and mica, the wonder mineral, was known to ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, and even in the Aztec civilization of the New World - for examples:

The earliest use of mica has been found in cave paintings created during the Upper Paleolithic period (40,000 BC to 10,000 BC), The first colors were red, iron oxide (hematite, a form of red ochre) and black (manganese dioxide), though black from bridget or pine carbons has also been discovered. White from kaolin or mica was used occasionally. The only other colors available to Magdalenian painters were yellow and brown. 3rd para, concluding part

A few kilometeres northeast of Mexico City stands the ancient site of Teotihuacan. The most striking visual and striking structure of Teotihuacan is the towering pyramid of the sun. One of the most amazing aspects pertaining to the Pyramid of the Sun was one-foot thick, sheet of granulated mica which had covered the entire top level of the Pyramid of the Sun. 4th para, opening part

Through out the ages, fine powders of mica have been used for various purposes, including decorative purposes. The coloured Gulal and Abeer used by Hindus of north India during holi festival contain fine small crystals of mica. The majestic Padmanabhapuram palace, Padmanabhapuram, 65 km from Trivandrum, India, has coloured mica windows.

References

• Deer, W. A., R. A. Howie and J. Zussman (1966) An Introduction to the Rock Forming Minerals, Longman, ISBN 0-582-44210-9
• Mineral Galleries data

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