Mica - is that a mineral? Description and properties of mica

Mica is found in natural mineral formations of the earth's crust. It is a breed 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 capable of splitting into very thin solid plates, while retaining elasticity, flexibility and strength.

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

Regardless of the fact that there are many varieties of the mineral under consideration, it has common characteristics, such as:

• Plateau;
• Basal cleavage;
• The ability to split into the finest components.

Varieties of mica

Based on the chemical composition, it is possible to provide the following classification of the mineral under consideration, namely:

1. Magnesian-ferruginous mica - biotite, phlogopite and lepidomelan.
2. Aluminum mica - paragonite and muscovite.
3. Lithium mica - zinnwaldite, lepidolite and tainiolite.

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

• Scrap and fine mica (waste parts from the production of sheet mica);
• Intumescent mica - this is vermiculite, obtained as a result of roasting 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 act as high-quality electrical insulating materials, which are indispensable in such areas as radio, electrical and aircraft engineering. The glass industry, for example, can not do without lepidolite, from which optical glass is manufactured.

It is also worth noting that the large sizes of sheets obtained by gluing mica plates and mikanite are used as a first-class electrical and thermal insulation material. 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 in corrosive environments and in conditions of high humidity. Mica is subjected to fractionation, and depending on the size of the fraction, the material is given specific properties. 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 process of making paints, building materials, plastics, glues, sealants, mastics, etc. To impart sound and heat insulating qualities to the concrete, vermiculite is added to it.

In addition, mica - a mineral, characterized by decorative properties that are used in such areas:

• Production of fireplace screens;
• Creation of stained-glass windows;
• Jewelry business.

What kind of rock is a given mineral?

Granite is a stone, the mica in which it was discovered in large volumes. It is one of the most common crystalline natural mineral aggregates. 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 because it has such unique qualities as mechanical strength, durability and frost resistance, ideally combined with its decorative properties.

The pleasant appearance of granite is also suitable for exterior facing of buildings - the construction of embankments or the creation of monuments, and for the interior (various decor elements).

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

How does it happen?

Based on the size of the grains, we can distinguish the following varieties of granite, namely:

• Coarse-grained stone (over 10 mm);
• Medium-grained granite (2-10 mm);
• Fine-grained (less than 2 mm).

The color palette of granite is represented almost the entire spectrum of shades. Multicolored grains are feldspar, granite mica stains black, and quartz is responsible for sparkling translucent grains.

Its merits

Granite is a stone, the mica in which it makes it durable in comparison with popular marble. Products made from it, never lose their properties and are not deformed externally if they are used in a climate with a continental seasonal temperature difference of more than one hundred degrees. Thus, granite is not afraid of sixty degrees of frost, or heat above 50 degrees, which is important in the Russian climate. In addition, this stone is much less susceptible to fungal lesions than the same marble.

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

Also, consider such a criterion, determining the degree of strength, like moisture absorption. Granite bypasses all its competitors.

Versions on the origin of the name of light mica

The first specimen of the mineral under consideration, which appeared in European civilization, was the "native" from Karelia. Mica, the description of which was presented earlier, was exported to the West in significant quantities and was one of the main exported goods of our country in the 17th-18th centuries. Proof of this can serve as 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 came to Western markets from Russia.

According to the scientific version, the emergence of this name is considered to be the time when, according to the double taxonomy proposed by a Swedish naturalist, Karl Linnaeus, the German mineralogist Valerius appropriated a specific name for the industrial mica in the title of the corresponding section, namely Vitrum moscoviticum Wall. Later, in the system of double names, only the central word from the proposed term was preserved.

The history of mica exploitation in industrial areas

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

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

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

Disadvantages of the breed

As mentioned earlier, mica is a mineral capable of giving substantial strength to the material. However, despite its highly valued properties of universality and practicality, this rock is characterized by porosity and brittleness. That is why mica is used exclusively in combination with other components that are capable of providing the material with monolithicity and mechanical strength. The presence of this mineral in rocks reduces their resistance and strength, makes it difficult to grind and polish.

What is the relationship between quartz, granite, mica?

To understand this question once again, it is worthwhile to give a brief explanation of each of these terms.

Mica acts as a mineral consisting of thin leaves, plates. These constituent particles easily split. They are transparent-dark ebb with a glimmer. Mica is an integral component of granite and several other rocks. Its development is carried out in an open or underground way. In this case, drilling and blasting operations are used. Crystals of mica are taken from the mountain masses exclusively by hand. In addition, methods for its industrial synthesis have already been developed.

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

Granite is a rock that consists of grains of several minerals, such as mica, feldspar and quartz. It can be pink, gray, red. It can often be found in the cities, as they are facing the walls of some buildings, make pedestals for monuments and lay embankments on rivers.