Mica Photos       
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Virtual Geology Museum      Hall of Minerals

Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

wellerr@cochise.edu     copyright 2008-R.Weller 

muscovite crystal
Muscovite is KAl₃Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂
Muscovite, commonly known as white mica, is a member of the mica family of minerals.  The mica
minerals all share the property of perfect basal cleavage, which means that layers of mica can be
peeled off of a mica crystal in very thin sheets.  It is especially easy to peel off large numbers of
paper-thin sheets from a muscovite crystal.  Consequently, crystals of mica, like the one shown
below, are often referred to as books of mica.
 

mica
Photo is copyright free for non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photo to R.Weller/Cochise College.