Mica

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Mica appliques
MFA# 13.4284

Description

A group of silicate minerals that cleave into thin, flexible sheets. Mica minerals range in color from colorless to black. They are composed of potassium aluminum silicates (Muscovite) and may also contain magnesium (Phlogopite), chromium (Fuchsite), iron (Biotite), and lithium (Lepidolite). Mica is mined commercially in India, Canada, Malagasy Republic, Brazil, and Argentina. Ground mica is used in paper, paints, and ceramic glazes to increase gloss and add sparkle. It has been used as a replacement for bronze powder in some metallic paints. Mica is also used as a filler in plastics, wallboard, mortar, and asphalt shingles. Sheets of mica were at one time used as small windows for houses (Muscovy glass); now thin sheets are used as windows in electrical equipment. It is also used as a fireproofing material, an agent in fire extinguishers, and as an electrical insulator.

Japanese print
MFA# 41.262
Mica chain
MFA# 2006.414

Synonyms and Related Terms

Muscovy glass; isinglass stone; muscovite (colorless); phlogopite (brown); fuchsite (green); lepidolite (pink, lilac); biotite (black); glauconite (green); paragonite; apophyllite; Glimmer (Deut., Sven.); mika (Gr.); micare (Lat.); miki (Pol.); mica (Esp., Fr., It., Ned., Port.);

FTIR (MFA)

Kira Mica (607).TIF

Raman

ApophyliteRS.jpg

XRD

PIG607.jpg

SEM

F607sem.jpg

EDS

F607edsbw.jpg

XRF

Slide26 F607.PNG

Risks

  • May contain silica which could produce silicosis by inhalation.
  • Crystex Composites: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Tetragonal system with tabular, cube-like or prismatic crystals.
  • Perfect cleavage in one direction.
  • Fracture = uneven.
  • Luster = pearly, iridescent.
  • Streak = white to colorless
CAS 12001-26-2
Mohs Hardness 2.0 - 5.0
Density 2.7-3.2 g/ml
Refractive Index 1.563; 1.604; 1.599

Additional Images

Resources and Citations

  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 505
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
  • Robert Fournier, Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery, Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
  • Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  • Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=2.6-3.2

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