Mica - what is this mineral? Description and properties of mica

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:54

Mica is found in natural mineral formations of the earth's crust. It is a rock of volcanic origin, which was formed during the cooling of molten lava. It is also worth noting that mica is an excellent insulator that does not conduct electricity and heat.

Interpretation of the concept

This group of minerals has perfect cleavage in one direction. They are able to split into very thin hard plates, while maintaining elasticity, flexibility and strength.

Thus, we can conclude that mica is a mineral that visually resembles glass and has a structure of layered crystals. It is due to this feature, as well as due to the weak connection between individual packages of materials, that certain chemical properties are formed.

While there are many varieties of the mineral in question, it has common characteristics such as:

lamellar;
basal cleavage;
the ability to split into the finest components.

Varieties of mica

Based on the chemical composition, the following classification can be providedthe mineral in question, namely:

Magnesian-ferruginous mica - biotite, phlogopite and lepidomelane.
Aluminum mica - paragonite and muscovite.
Lithium mica - zinnwaldite, lepidolite and tainiolite.

There is another typology of this mineral, which refers to the concept of "industrial mica":

scrap and small mica (waste parts from the production of sheet mica);
intumescent mica is vermiculite obtained by firing this mineral;
sheet mica.

Scope of the considered rock of volcanic origin

Mica is a mineral of metamorphic, sedimentary and intrusive rocks, and in combination it is also a mineral.

Phlogopite and muscovite are high-quality electrical insulating materials that are indispensable in areas such as radio, electrical and aircraft. The glass industry, for example, cannot do without lepidolite, which is used to make optical glasses.

It is also worth noting that the large sizes of sheets obtained by gluing mica and micanite plates are used as first-class electrical and thermal insulation materials. And from fine mica and scrap, ground mica is obtained, which is used mainly in the cement, construction, rubber industries, in the production of plastics, paints, etc.

It is also used as a filler in stressed structures and compositions intended for use inaggressive environments and in conditions of high humidity. Micas are subjected to fractionation, and depending on the size of the fraction, specific properties are imparted to the material. In particular, micromica can significantly strengthen the material, after which it will become resistant to any deformation, as well as to alternating loads.

Mica-muscovite has a light gray color and is used in the manufacturing process of paints and varnishes, building materials, plastics, adhesives, sealants, mastics, etc. Vermiculite is added to give concrete sound and heat insulating qualities.

In addition, mica is a mineral with decorative properties that are used in the following areas:

manufacturing of fireplace screens;
creating stained-glass windows;
jewellery.

What rock is this mineral included in?

Granite is a stone in which mica was found in large volume. It is one of the most common crystalline natural mineral aggregates. The stone is traditionally used in the construction field.

The word "granite" comes from the Latin "granum", which translates as "grain". This stone has been widely used by architects and designers for several hundred years due to the fact that it has such unique qualities as mechanical strength, durability and frost resistance, which are ideally combined with its decorative properties.

The pleasant appearance of granite is also suitable for exterior cladding of objects - the construction of embankments orcreating monuments, and for the interior (various decorative elements).

It contains quartz and feldspar, mica and other minerals. Their ratio affects the color and strength of the stone.

What is he like?

Based on the size of the grains, the following varieties of granite can be distinguished, namely:

coarse-grained stone (over 10 mm);
medium grain granite (2-10mm);
fine grain (less than 2 mm).

The color palette of granite is represented by almost the entire range of shades. The multi-colored grains are feldspar, mica colors granite black, and quartz is responsible for the sparkling translucent grains.

His virtues

Granite is a stone whose mica composition makes it durable compared to the popular marble. Products made from it never lose their properties and do not deform externally when used in a climate with a continental seasonal temperature difference of more than one hundred degrees. Thus, granite is not afraid of either sixty-degree frosts or heat over 50 degrees, which is important in the Russian climate. In addition, this stone is much less susceptible to fungal infections than the same marble.

Granite, in which mica is included in the form of muscovite and biotite, is not only durable, but also a fireproof stone. It begins to melt at temperatures above 700 degrees Celsius.

Also followsconsider such a criterion that determines the degree of strength as moisture absorption. Granite bypasses all its competitors in it.

Versions about the origin of the name of light mica

The first instance of the mineral in question, which appeared in European civilization, was a "native" from Karelia. Mica, the description of which was presented earlier, was exported to the West in significant volumes and was one of the main exported goods of our country in the 17th-18th centuries. The proof of this is the origin of the name of light mica - muscovite - from the former name of the capital of the Russian state (XV-XVIII centuries) - Muscovy. Therefore, we can say that it arrived on Western markets from Russia.

According to the scientific version, the appearance of this name is considered to be the moment when, according to the double taxonomy proposed by such a Swedish naturalist as Carl Linnaeus, the German mineralogist Valerius assigned a certain name to industrial mica in the heading of the corresponding section, namely “Vitrum moscoviticum Wall . Subsequently, in the system of double names, only the central word from the proposed term was preserved.

History of industrial exploitation of mica

The first cases of using this mineral, mainly instead of window glass, were witnessed in Novgorod (X-XII centuries) during the development of the riches of Karelia and the Kola Peninsula in this territory. Then Ivan the Terrible conquered Novgorod and Pskov, which contributed toacquaintance of Moscow rulers with mica.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the mica industry was already quite widely developed in Karelia. According to official data, by the beginning of 1608 there was a Decree of the Moscow government regarding the collection of tax from the mined mineral in the amount of one tenth of the total.

The development and exploration of Siberia led in the 17th century to new discoveries of mica deposits. Its presence was witnessed by Vladimir Atlasov in 1683 on the Aldan. These deposits were subsequently forgotten, and only two hundred and fifty years later (on the eve of the Great Patriotic War) were they rediscovered. At that time, the exploitation of mica began mainly for the needs of the country's defense.

Disadvantages of the breed

As mentioned earlier, mica is a mineral that can give significant strength to a material. However, despite its highly valued properties of versatility and practicality, this rock is characterized by porosity and fragility. That is why mica is used exclusively in combination with other components that are able to provide the material with solidity and mechanical strength. The presence of this mineral in rocks reduces their resistance and strength, makes grinding and polishing difficult.

What is the relationship between quartz, granite, mica?

To understand this issue again, it is worth giving a brief explanation of each of these terms.

Mica acts as a mineral, consisting of thin leaves, plates. These constituents break down easily. They are transparent-dark tint witha glimpse. Mica is an integral component of granite and several other rocks. Its development is carried out by an open or underground method. In this case, drilling and blasting operations are used. Mica crystals are selected from the rock masses exclusively by hand. In addition, methods for its industrial synthesis have already been developed.

Quartz is a mineral that is not only part of granite, but also often found in a separate form. Its crystals can range in size from a few millimeters to several meters. The transparent embodiment of this mineral is called rock crystal, and the white one is called milky quartz. The most famous is a transparent purple quartz - amethyst. There is pink and blue, and many other varieties of this mineral, which are used mainly in the process of making jewelry.

Granite is a rock that is made up of grains of several minerals such as mica, feldspar and quartz. It comes in pink, grey, red. It can often be found in cities, as it is used to line the walls of some buildings, make pedestals for monuments and lay out river embankments.