Article
Article
Mica
Article By:
Grossman, Lawrence Department of Geophysical Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Simon, Steven Department of Geophysical Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.421900
Any one of a group of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals with platy morphology and perfect basal (micaceous) cleavage. The three major species, muscovite, biotite, and phlogopite, are widely distributed rock-forming minerals, occurring as essential constituents in a variety of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and in many mineral deposits (see illustration).
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