IC 7617 Domestic Mica ? Introduction

"Mica" is a group name for a number of orthosilicates of aluminum with magnesium, ferrous iron, and the alkalies. They are characterized by their high reflection and a basal cleavage so well developed that they can be split into exceedingly thin laminae, which are more or less tough, elastic, and transparent, according to variety. Barium, manganese, lithium, chromium, titanium, boron, and ferric iron occur in same varieties. Eight distinct species of true mica, which appear in the following table, are recognized by mineralogists, but only the first five are of commercial importance. [Species General Formula Muscovite H2KA13 (SiO4)3 Phlogopite [H,K, (MgF)]) Mg3A1 (Si04)3 Biotite (H,K)2(Mg,Fe)2(Al)Fe)2 (S104)3 Lepidolite K,Li Al(OH,F)2 Al (5103)3 Ros coalite H8K(Mg,Fe) (A1,V)4 (S103)12 Paragonite H2NaAl3(S104)3 Zinnwaldite (K)Li)3 FeAl3 Si5016(OH,F)2 Lepidomelene HK2F3IIIFe6III A13 (S104)9]