Mica Photos       
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

[email protected]     copyright 2010-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.