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Muscovite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored in memory of Laszlo Z. Valachi
About Muscovite
Muscovite from Northern Karelia in the window of XVII century.
Northern Karelia, Republic of Karelia, Russia
Northern Karelia, Republic of Karelia, Russia
Formula:
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Colour:
White to colorless, silvery-white, and tinged various colors by impurities.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.77 - 2.88
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
The earliest names attributable to muscovite include Muscovy Glass, Cat Silver, and Lapis Specularis (stone mirror); these names appearing in texts in the seventeenth century and before. The stand-alone name 'Muscovite' was used as early as 1794 by Johann Gottfried Schmeisser in his System of Mineralogy and is derived from the term "Muscovy glass," which was in common use by that time. Muscovy Province in Russia yielded sheet mica for a variety of uses. Muscovite and sometimes similar species were earlier called mica (Phillips and Kersey, 1706), glimmer (Phillips and Kersey, 1706), and isinglass (1747 according to OED) but all of these terms are still in use to some degree. It should be noted that mica, glimmer, and isinglass were also used for a variety of materials before these given dates and in those earlier times did not always indicate what would be a mineral, much less muscovite proper. Isinglass, for example, was originally used for a gelatinous bladder found in sturgeon.
The most common of the Mica Group minerals on the Earth's crust, it is typically found as massively crystalline material in "books" or in flaky grains as a constituent of many rock types. It is clear with a pearly luster on cleavage faces, often having a sparkly look in rocks.
Several polytypes are known (see below); the most common one is the 2M1 polytype.
It can form a continuous series with celadonite and aluminoceladonite; intermediates are known as the variety phengite and K-deficient variants as illite.
May be confused with margarite and several of the lithium micas.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Muscovite.
Several polytypes are known (see below); the most common one is the 2M1 polytype.
It can form a continuous series with celadonite and aluminoceladonite; intermediates are known as the variety phengite and K-deficient variants as illite.
May be confused with margarite and several of the lithium micas.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Muscovite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2815
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2815:4
Similar Names
| Muscovite-3A | A synonym of 'Muscovite-3T' |
IMA Classification of Muscovite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2
Classification of Muscovite
9.EC.15
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 7th ed.:
71.2.2.1
71.2.2a.1
71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
2 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 layers
71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
2 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 layers
16.3.8
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMAâCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMAâCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ms | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ms | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277â279. |
| Ms | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Ms | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185â187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Ms | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
| Ms | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261â264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Pronunciation of Muscovite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Muscovite
Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White to colorless, silvery-white, and tinged various colors by impurities.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Comment:
2.5 parallel to [001], 4 perpendicular to [001]
Tenacity:
Elastic
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}.
Perfect on {001}.
Parting:
On {110} and {010}.
Fracture:
Micaceous
Density:
2.77 - 2.88 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Muscovite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.552 - 1.576 nβ = 1.582 - 1.615 nγ = 1.587 - 1.618
2V:
Measured: 30° to 47°, Calculated: 38° to 42°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.035 - 0.042
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v weak
Optical Extinction:
Z = b; X ⧠c = 0°-5°; Y ⧠a = 1°-3°.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Pleochroism Comments:
Weak when colored
Comments:
Absorption: Faint, Y â Z > X.
Chemistry of Muscovite
Mindat Formula:
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Cr,Li,Fe,V,Mn,Na,Cs,Rb,Ca,Mg,H2O
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
Mesoarchean to Quaternary : 2890 Ma to 1.22 Âą 0.06 Ma - based on 209 recorded ages.
Sample ages:
| Sample ID | Recorded age | Geologic Time | Dating method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.22 Âą 0.06 Ma | Pleistocene | K-Ar |
| 2 | 1.37 Âą 0.05 Ma | Pleistocene | K-Ar |
| 3 | 14.2 Âą 0.6 Ma | Miocene | K-Ar |
| 4 | 47.8 Âą 1.9 Ma | Eocene | K-Ar |
| 5 | 71.1 Âą 1.4 Ma | Late/Upper Cretaceous | K-Ar |
| 6 | 87 Âą 4 Ma | Late/Upper Cretaceous | |
| 7 | 126.2 Âą 1.2 Ma | Early/Lower Cretaceous | Ar-Ar |
| 8 | 150 Âą 5 Ma | Late Jurassic | Rb-Sr |
| 9 | 192 Ma | Early Jurassic | Ar-Ar |
| 10 | 233.7 Âą 4.7 Ma | Late/Upper Triassic | K-Ar |
| 11 | 263 Ma | Guadalupian | K-Ar |
| 12 | 277.2 Âą 5.5 Ma | Cisuralian | K-Ar |
| 13 | 311 Ma | Pennsylvanian | K-Ar |
| 14 | 338.6 Âą 0.5 Ma | Mississippian | Ar-Ar |
| 15 | 349.8 Âą 3.9 Ma | Mississippian | Ar-Ar |
| 16 | 365 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | K-Ar |
| 17 | 379.9 Âą 3.8 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | Ar-Ar |
| 18 | 413.5 Âą 4.7 Ma | Early/Lower Devonian | Ar-Ar |
| 19 | 670 to 660 Ma | Cryogenian | Ar-Ar |
| 20 | 2890 Ma | Mesoarchean | Rb-Sr |
Sample references:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
Showing 12 of 13 analyses on this page.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | 48.21 % | 52.82 % | 49.07 % | 49.40 % | 49.32 % | 50.89 % | 48.93 % | 51.86 % | 51.72 % | 51.69 % | 51.25 % | 44.96 % |
| TiO2 | 1.06 % | 0.29 % | 0.32 % | 0.45 % | 0.19 % | 0.36 % | 0.39 % | 0.38 % | 0.02 % | 0.16 % | 0.32 % | 0.04 % |
| Al2O3 | 32.13 % | 23.34 % | 32.04 % | 31.66 % | 29.03 % | 27.40 % | 28.05 % | 24.85 % | 27.14 % | 23.52 % | 23.94 % | 37.39 % |
| FeO | 5.46 % | 0.12 % | 1.18 % | 1.65 % | 2.20 % | 1.06 % | 2.25 % | 1.73 % | 3.27 % | 1.96 % | 3.06 % | 0.04 % |
| MgO | 0.25 % | 5.93 % | 2.39 % | 2.39 % | 3.08 % | 3.89 % | 3.36 % | 4.68 % | 3.34 % | 4.89 % | 4.40 % | 0.02 % |
| MnO | 0.09 % | 0.04 % | 0.06 % | 0.09 % | 0.05 % | 0.04 % | 0.04 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % | |||
| Na2O | 1.04 % | 0.16 % | 1.52 % | 0.91 % | 0.84 % | 0.68 % | 0.25 % | 0.04 % | 0.12 % | 0.36 % | 0.81 % | |
| K2O | 8.56 % | 11.07 % | 9.30 % | 10.9 % | 11.07 % | 10.09 % | 10.30 % | 10.86 % | 8.95 % | 10.79 % | 10.66 % | 10.68 % |
| P2O5 | 0.03 % | 0.00 % | ||||||||||
| CaO | 0.00 % | 0.02 % | 0.05 % | 0.14 % | 0.06 % | 0.07 % | 0.31 % | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | |||
| Cr2O3 | 0.24 % | 0.15 % | 0.12 % | 0.07 % | 0.04 % | 0.32 % | 0.01 % | |||||
| BaO | 0.01 % | |||||||||||
| F | 0.00 % | |||||||||||
| Cl | 0.02 % | |||||||||||
| H2O | 4.46 % | |||||||||||
| O=F,Cl | ||||||||||||
| Total: | 96.83 % | 93.77 % | 95.84 % | 97.41 % | 94.89 % | 94.97 % | 94.26 % | 94.85 % | 94.9 % | 93.21 % | 94.31 % | 98.47 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 5 | K0.95Al1.50(Mg0.31 Fe2+0.12 Al0.11)ÎĢ0.5(Al0.68Ti0.01Si3.31)ÎĢ4.00O10OH2 |
| 6 | (K0.86Na0.11 )ÎĢ0.97(Al 1.46 Cr 0.01 Ca0.01Mg0.39Fe0.06 Ti0.02)ÎĢ1.95(Al0.61Si3.39O10)OH2 |
| 13 | K0.91Na0.09(Mg0.42 Fe0.08 Ca0.01Mn0.01Al1.51)ÎĢ1.93(Al0.59Si3.41)ÎĢ4.00O10OH2 |
| 7 | K0.89Na0.09(Mg0.34 Fe0.13 Mn0.01 Ti0.02Al1.51)ÎĢ2.11(Al0.69Si3.31)ÎĢ4.00O10OH2 |
| 8 | K0.93Na0.03(Mg0.47 Fe0.10 Ca0.01Ti0.02Al1.44)ÎĢ2.04(Al0.52Si3.48)ÎĢ4.00O10OH2 |
| 9 | K0.76Na0.01(Mg0.33 Fe0.18 Ca0.02 Al1.54)ÎĢ2.07(Al0.58Si3.42)ÎĢ4.00O10OH2 |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Muscovite
Polytype:
Formula:
Crystal System:
Class (H-M)
Space Group:
Space Group Setting:
Cell Parameters:
Ratio:
Unit Cell Volume (calc):
Z:
Comment:
| Muscovite-1M | Muscovite-1Md | Muscovite-2M1 | Muscovite-2M2 | Muscovite-3T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Monoclinic | Monoclinic | Trigonal | ||
| 2 - Sphenoidal | 2/m - Prismatic | 32 - Trapezohedral | ||
| B2 | B2/b | P3112 | ||
| C2 | C2/c | |||
| a = 5.186 Å, b = 8.952 Å, c = 10.12 Å β = 101.8° | a = 5.19 Å, b = 9.04 Å, c = 20.08 Å β = 95.5° | a = 5.1963(4) Å, c = 16 Å | ||
| a:b:c = 0.579 : 1 : 1.13 | a:b:c = 0.574 : 1 : 2.221 | a:c = 1 : 3.079 | ||
| V 459.89 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell) | V 937.77 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell) | V 374.14 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell) | ||
| From Russian structure solution (1975). | 5 . 1 9 b = 9 . 0 4 c = 2 0 . 0 8 Ė = 9 5 Âą 3 0 |
Crystal morphology of Muscovite
Tabular {001}
Goldschmidt (1913-1926), fig. 7
Drag a model to turn it; models can be downloaded for 3D printing.
Crystal Structure
Loading the structure viewerâĶ
55 structures. Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click a row to view it.
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019256 | Muscovite | Mesto E, Scordari F, Lacalamita M, Schingaro E (2012) Tobelite and NH4+ -rich muscovite single crystals from Ordovician Armorican sandstones (Brittany, France): Structure and crystal chemistry American Mineralogist 97 1460-1468 | 2012 | Ordovician Armorican sandstones, Brittany, France | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006860 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Galli E, Medici L, Poppi L, Cibin G, Marcelli A, Mottana A (2001) Chromium-containing muscovite: crystal chemistry and XANES spectroscopy European Journal of Mineralogy 13 377-389 | 2001 | Northwest Nelson - Anatoki River | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006859 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Galli E, Medici L, Poppi L, Cibin G, Marcelli A, Mottana A (2001) Chromium-containing muscovite: crystal chemistry and XANES spectroscopy European Journal of Mineralogy 13 377-389 | 2001 | Northwest Nelson - Campbell Creek | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006858 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Galli E, Medici L, Poppi L, Cibin G, Marcelli A, Mottana A (2001) Chromium-containing muscovite: crystal chemistry and XANES spectroscopy European Journal of Mineralogy 13 377-389 | 2001 | Westland | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012228 | Muscovite | Tomita K, Shiraki K, Kawano M (1998) Crystal structure of dehydroxylated 2M1 sericite and its relationship with mixed-layer mica/smectite Clay Science 10 423-441 | 1998 | Goto mine, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006547 | Muscovite | Amisano-Canesi A, Chiari G, Ferraris G, Ivaldi G, Soboleva S V (1994) Muscovite- and phengite-3T: crystal structure and conditions of formation European Journal of Mineralogy 6 489-496 | 1994 | Dora-Maira | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006546 | Muscovite | Amisano-Canesi A, Chiari G, Ferraris G, Ivaldi G, Soboleva S V (1994) Muscovite- and phengite-3T: crystal structure and conditions of formation European Journal of Mineralogy 6 489-496 | 1994 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019597 | Muscovite | Knurr R A, Bailey S W (1986) Refinement of Mn-substituted muscovite and phlogopite Clays and Clay Minerals 34 7-16 | 1986 | Minas Gerais, Brazil | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019604 | Muscovite | Rule A C, Bailey S W (1985) Refinement of the crystal structure of phengite-2M1 Clays and Clay Minerals 33 403-409 | 1985 | Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara | 0 | 293 | |
| 0014475 | Muscovite | Martin-Ramos JD, Rodriguez-Gallego M (1982) Chromian mica from Sierra Nevada, Spain Mineralogical Magazine 46 269-272 |  | 1982 | Sierra Nevada, Spain | 0 | 293 |
| 0014740 | Muscovite | Rothbauer R (1971) Untersuchung eines 2M1-muskovits mit neutronenstrahlen Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1971 143-154 | 1971 | Diamond mine, Black Hills, South Dakota, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019602 | Muscovite | Guven N (1971) The crystal structures of 2M1 phengite and 2M1 muscovite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 134 196-212 | | 1971 | pegmatite in Georgia, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0019601 | Muscovite | Guven N (1971) The crystal structures of 2M1 phengite and 2M1 muscovite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 134 196-212 | | 1971 | Tiburon Peninsula, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0010646 | Muscovite | Guven N, Burnham C W (1967) The crystal structure of 3T muscovite Snohomish County, Washington, USA Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 125 163-183 | | 1967 | in granodiorite near Sunrise Copper Prospect, Sultan Basin, | 0 | 293 |
| 0018221 | Muscovite | Guven N, Burnham C (1966) The crystal structure of 3T muscovite _cod_database_code 1100014 Carnegie Institution of Washington: Yearbook 65 290-293 | 1966 | Sunrise copper prospect, Snohomish Co, Washington, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006358 | Muscovite | Catti M, Ferraris G, Ivaldi G (1989) Thermal strain analysis in the crystal structure of muscovite at 700 C European Journal of Mineralogy 1 625-632 | 1989 | 0 | 298 | ||
| 0005737 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Kile D E, Poppi M (2001) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of lithium-bearing muscovite-2M1 The Canadian Mineralogist 39 1171-1180 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005736 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Kile D E, Poppi M (2001) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of lithium-bearing muscovite-2M1 The Canadian Mineralogist 39 1171-1180 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005735 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Kile D E, Poppi M (2001) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of lithium-bearing muscovite-2M1 O4 B33 is missing a zero The Canadian Mineralogist 39 1171-1180 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005734 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Kile D E, Poppi M (2001) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of lithium-bearing muscovite-2M1 The Canadian Mineralogist 39 1171-1180 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005733 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Kile D E, Poppi M (2001) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of lithium-bearing muscovite-2M1 The Canadian Mineralogist 39 1171-1180 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012229 | Muscovite | Tomita K, Shiraki K, Kawano M (1998) Crystal structure of dehydroxylated 2M1 sericite and its relationship with mixed-layer mica/smectite Clay Science 10 423-441 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0005550 | Muscovite | Liang J, Hawthorne F C, Swainson I P (1998) Triclinic muscovite: X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and photo-acoustic FTIR spectroscopy The Canadian Mineralogist 36 1017-1027 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005549 | Muscovite | Liang J, Hawthorne F C, Swainson I P (1998) Triclinic muscovite: X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and photo-acoustic FTIR spectroscopy The Canadian Mineralogist 36 1017-1027 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002023 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample C3-31b from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002022 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample C6Bb from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002021 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample C6Cb from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002020 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample B1b from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002019 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample C3-29b from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002018 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample CC1b from peraluminous granites at Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002017 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample H87b from peraluminous granites at Sardinia, Italy American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002016 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample GFS15Ab from peraluminous granites at Sardinia, Italy American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002015 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample A4b from peraluminous granites at Sardinia, Italy American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002014 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample RA1 from a pegmatite on Antarctica American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002013 | Muscovite | Brigatti M F, Frigieri P, Poppi L (1998) Crystal chemistry of Mg-, Fe-bearing muscovites-2M1 Sample GA1 from a pegmatite on Maddalena Island, Italy American Mineralogist 83 775-785 | | 1998 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005485 | Muscovite | Liang J, Hawthorne F C (1996) Rietveld refinement of micaceous materials: muscovite-2M1, a comparison with single-crystal structure refinement The Canadian Mineralogist 34 115-122 | | 1996 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005484 | Muscovite | Liang J, Hawthorne F C (1996) Rietveld refinement of micaceous materials: muscovite-2M1, a comparison with single-crystal structure refinement The Canadian Mineralogist 34 115-122 | | 1996 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005483 | Muscovite | Liang J, Hawthorne F C (1996) Rietveld refinement of micaceous materials: muscovite-2M1, a comparison with single-crystal structure refinement The Canadian Mineralogist 34 115-122 | | 1996 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0007910 | Muscovite | Comodi P, Zanazzi P F (1995) High-pressure structural study of muscovite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 22 170-177 | 1995 | 0.0001 | 293 | ||
| 0006533 | Muscovite | Catti M, Ferraris G, Hull S, Pavese A (1994) Powder neutron diffraction study of 2M_1 muscovite at room pressure and at 2 GPa European Journal of Mineralogy 6 171-178 | 1994 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0006359 | Muscovite | Catti M, Ferraris G, Ivaldi G (1989) Thermal strain analysis in the crystal structure of muscovite at 700 C T= 700 C European Journal of Mineralogy 1 625-632 | 1989 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0001080 | Muscovite | Guggenheim S, Chang Y H, Koster van Groos A F (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies American Mineralogist 72 537-550 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001079 | Muscovite | Guggenheim S, Chang Y H, Koster van Groos A F (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies American Mineralogist 72 537-550 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001078 | Muscovite | Guggenheim S, Chang Y H, Koster van Groos A F (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies American Mineralogist 72 537-550 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001077 | Muscovite | Guggenheim S, Chang Y H, Koster van Groos A F (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies American Mineralogist 72 537-550 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001076 | Muscovite | Guggenheim S, Chang Y H, Koster van Groos A F (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies American Mineralogist 72 537-550 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000854 | Muscovite | Richardson S M, Richardson J W (1982) Crystal structure of a pink muscovite from Archer's Post, Kenya: Implications for reverse pleochroism in dioctahedral micas American Mineralogist 67 69-75 | | 1982 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018219 | Muscovite | Birle J, Tettenhorst R (1968) Refined Muscovite structure _cod_database_code 1100010 Mineralogical Magazine 36 883-886 | | 1968 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018279 | Muscovite | Gueven N, Burnham C (1966) The Crystal Structure of 3T Muscovite _cod_database_code 1101031 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 65 290-293 | 1966 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0012259 | Muscovite | Gatineau L (1963) Localisation des remplacements isomorphiques dans la muscovite _cod_database_code 1000042 Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences 256 4648-4649 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018220 | Muscovite | Radoslovich E (1960) The Structure of Muscovite, K Al2 (Si3 Al) O10 (O H)2 _cod_database_code 1100012 Acta Crystallographica 13 919-932 |  | 1960 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0007908 | Muscovite | Comodi P, Zanazzi P F (1995) High-pressure structural study of muscovite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 22 170-177 | 1995 | 0.05 | 293 | ||
| 0006534 | Muscovite | Catti M, Ferraris G, Hull S, Pavese A (1994) Powder neutron diffraction study of 2M_1 muscovite at room pressure and at 2 GPa European Journal of Mineralogy 6 171-178 | 1994 | 2 | 293 | ||
| 0007911 | Muscovite | Comodi P, Zanazzi P F (1995) High-pressure structural study of muscovite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 22 170-177 | 1995 | 2.7 | 293 | ||
| 0007909 | Muscovite | Comodi P, Zanazzi P F (1995) High-pressure structural study of muscovite Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 22 170-177 | 1995 | 2.8 | 293 |
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.01 Ã | (100) |
| 5.02 Ã | (60) |
| 4.48 Ã | (60) |
| 4.46 Ã | (70) |
| 3.35 Ã | (100) |
| 3.21 Ã | (50) |
| 2.59 Ã | (50) |
| 2.56 Ã | (90) |
Comments:
Data given are for the -2M^1 polytype.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earthâs earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 16 : Low-ð aqueous alteration of Hadean subaerial lithologies (see also #23) | |
| Stage 4a: Earthâs earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| 20 : Acidic volcanic rocks | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies) | |
| 43 : Shear-induced minerals (including mylonite/slickensides) | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Geological Setting:
Muscovite is common in many different rock types as a primary mineral.
Synonyms of Muscovite
Other Language Names for Muscovite
Catalan:Moscovita
Czech:Muskovit
Dutch:Muscoviet
Esperanto:Muskovito
Finnish:Muskoviitti
French:Muscovite
Argent des chats
Argent des chats
Galician:Moscovita
Hebrew:ŨŨŨĄŨ§ŨŨŨŨ
Hungarian:Muszkovit
Italian:Muscovite
Japanese:į―éēæŊ
Low Saxon/Low German:Muskovit
Polish:Muskowit
Portuguese:Muscovite
Russian:ÐĄÐĩŅÐļŅÐļŅ
Simplified Chinese:į―äšæŊ
Slovak:Muskovit
Turkish:Muskovit
Varieties of Muscovite
| Adamsite | A variety of muscovite, classed as a margarodite. Not to be confused with adamsite-(Y), or with the chemical warfare agent of the same name, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamsite Originally described from Derby, Orleans Co., Vermo... |
| Al-illite-hydromica | Variety of Illite very low in K and high in water. |
| Alurgite | Name introduced by Breithaupt in 1865 and characterized by Penfield in 1893 (vide Knurr and Bailey, 1986). Placed by W. T. Schaller (1950) as an intermediate between leucophyllite (now a synonym of aluminoceladonite) and muscovite. A study of Knurr and Ba... |
| Ammersooite | A variety of Illite capable of fixing Potassium, from Dutch fields. |
| Astrolite | Spherical aggregates composed of radiating tabular crystals. Originally described from Pelz quarry, Diabase quarries, Neumark, Reichenbach, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany. |
| Avalite | A chromian variety of Illite. Originally described from Mt Avala, Belgrade, Serbia. |
| Barium- and Chromium-bearing Muscovite | A barium- and chromium-bearing muscovite. |
| Barium-Vanadium-Muscovite | A barian vanadian variety of Muscovite. Originally reported from Silver Knob, Fish Camp, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Co., California, USA. |
| Barium-bearing Muscovite | A barium-rich variety of muscovite; probably equivalent to oellacherite; part of the series between muscovite and ganterite. |
| ChacaltaÃŪte | A green chlorite-like varety of muscovite. Originally reported from Chacaltaya mine, Mt. Huayna Potosí (Huaina Potosi), Murillo Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia. |
| Chromium-bearing Sericite | A chromium-bearing variety of sericite. See also fuchsite. |
| CrâNi-rich illite | Alkali-deficient, dioctahedral mica with <14% NiO and <11wt.% Cr2O3 |
| Damourite | Very fine-grained, compact muscovite - with a greasy feel, "serpentine-like," and often a fibrous appearance when viewed from a certain direction. |
| Degraded illite | Illite that has lost much of its potassium as the result of prolonged leaching. Ref: AGI |
| Ferrimuscovite | A variety of muscovite rich in ferric iron. |
| Fuchsite | Greenish, Cr-bearing variety of muscovite (trivalent Cr replaces Al in the crystal structure). Note that trivalent V can also cause a greenish colour in muscovite (cf. vanadian muscovite, roscoelite). Compare mar... |
| Gieseckite | Pseudomorphs of muscovite after an unknown mineral. Compare also liebenerite. |
| Gilbertite | Compact variety of muscovite. The original chemical analysis of material from Stenagwyn, Cornwall, indicated no potassium or sodium ( Thomson, 1831). There were major amounts of silica and alumina, and minor amounts of CaO, MgO, and FeO. Thomson seems to... |
| Illite | Illite is a very common mica and clay mineral, typically found as extremely fine-grained masses of grayish-white to silvery-gray, sometimes greenish-gray, material. The literature on "illite" is very large as it is a widespread component of many sediments... |
| Illite Jade | A dense variety of illite with reddish banding (caused by microscopic inclusions of hematite), which is used for carving and as an ornamental stone. In addition to hematite, the material usually also contains small quantities of impurities such as qu... |
| Iron(II)-bearing muscovite | An Fe(II)-bearing variety of muscovite. |
| Leverrierite | A kaolinite-group clay. Originally reported from Saint-Etienne, Loire, Rhône-Alpes, France. |
| Liebenerite | Muscovite pseudomorphous after nepheline, possibly also after cordierite. Compare also gieseckite. |
| Lithian Muscovite | A lithium-bearing variety of Muscovite. A red muscovite does not necessarily imply that the muscovite is lithium rich. Chemical analyses have indicated that muscovite can be pink, not due to Li content, but rather the color is due to the dominance of Mn3+... |
| Lithium Muscovite (of Levinson) | Supposedly a lithian muscovite with 3-4% Li2O. Note that this composition is probably a Li-poor trilithionite. |
| Mariposite | A greenish Cr-bearing "phengite", sericite or muscovite, probably equivalent to fuchsite. Originally described from Mariposa Co., California, USA. Also used to describe a rock rich in this mineral. |
| Oellacherite | A green to colorless, Ba-bearing/rich variety of muscovite; it forms a complete series with ganterite. |
| Persbergite | Muscovite pseudomorphous after nepheline. Not to be confused with pajsbergite. |
| Phengite | Phengite is an aluminous true mica (“white mica”) which contains a relatively high amount of tetrahedrally co-ordinated Si (3.1-3.5 apfu). As the Si amount increases, some divalent octahedrally co-ordinated cations (mostly ferrous Fe and Mg) are neces... |
| Rubidium-bearing Muscovite | Rubidium-bearing muscovite with Rb2O contents of 1 and more mass%. Usual rock-forming mineral in late stages of the evolution of many granitic rare-metal (Ta,Be,Cs) natro-lithian pegmatites. |
| Schernikite | A fibrous, typically pink variety of muscovite, described by Bowman (1902). |
| Sericite | A term for a fine-grained white, pale green to oily greenish mica, mainly Muscovite (rarely Paragonite). |
| Star muscovite | Muscovite forming star-shaped crystal aggregates. Especially nice specimens come from pegmatites in the Jenipapo district, Minas Gerais, Brazil. |
| Vanadium-bearing Illite | A V-enriched "illite". |
| Vanadium-bearing Muscovite | A V3+-bearing variety of muscovite. Al-dominant member of the muscovite-roscoelite solid-solution range. |
| Verdite | Trade name for a green ornamental stone, primarily an impure fuchsite mica originally from North Kaap river, Kaap Station, South Africa. Consists primarily of Fuchsite with minor Albite, Chlorite Group, Corundum, Diaspore, Margarit... |
| Wilsonite | Described as an Mn-bearing "sericite" or muscovite pseudomorph after scapolite. Hey lists it as an aluminosilicate of Mg and K. |
| Zinc-bearing Muscovite | Zn-bearing variety from the "Mixed Series" formation, Nežilovo, Macedonia. Associates, i.a., with ferricoronadite. |
Relationship of Muscovite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Dioctahedral mica:
| Boromuscovite | KAl2(BSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m |
| Celadonite Subgroup | A subgroup of the dioctahedral mica group. | |
| Chromphyllite | KCr2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| 'Glauconite' | K0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2 | |
| Nanpingite | CsAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| 'Natro-glauconite' | (Na,K)(Fe3+,Al,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 | |
| Paragonite | NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. |
| Roscoelite | KV3+2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Tobelite | (NH4)Al2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3,486 photos of Muscovite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2,606 photos of Muscovite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 1,847 photos of Muscovite associated with 'Aquamarine' | |
| 1,593 photos of Muscovite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 1,497 photos of Muscovite associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 919 photos of Muscovite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 914 photos of Muscovite associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 830 photos of Muscovite associated with Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| 799 photos of Muscovite associated with Spessartine | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 739 photos of Muscovite associated with Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EC. | Meifuite | KFe6(Si7Al)O19(OH)4Cl2 |
| 9.EC. | Balestraite | KLi2V5+Si4O12 |
| 9.EC. | Voloshinite | Rb(LiAl1.5âŧ0.5)(Al0.5Si3.5)O10F2 |
| 9.EC.05 | Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.05 | Minnesotaite | Fe2+3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.05 | Willemseite | Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Fluorluanshiweiite | KLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10F2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Garmite | CsLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Gorbunovite | CsLi2(Ti,Fe)Si4O10(F,OH,O)2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Ferripyrophyllite | Fe3+Si2O5(OH) |
| 9.EC.10 | Manganiceladonite | K(MgMn3+âŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Luanshiweiite | KLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.10 | Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Paragonite | NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Ferroaluminoceladonite | K(Fe2+Alâŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Nanpingite | CsAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Ferroceladonite | K(Fe2+Fe3+âŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Ganterite | Ba0.5(Na,K)0.5Al2(Si2.5Al1.5)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Kreiterite | CsLi2Fe3+(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Roscoelite | KV3+2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Aluminoceladonite | K(MgAlâŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Tobelite | (NH4)Al2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Tainiolite | KLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Celadonite | K(MgFe3+âŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Chromceladonite | K(MgCrâŧ)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Montdorite | KFe2+1.5Mn2+0.5Mg0.5Si4O10(F,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Chromphyllite | KCr2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Boromuscovite | KAl2(BSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.15 | 'UM1988-22-SiO:AlCaFFeHKLiMg' | KLiMgAl2Si3O10F2 |
| 9.EC.15 | Chernykhite | (Ba,Na)(V3+,Al,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Masutomilite | K(LiAlMn2+)[AlSi3O10]F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Oxyphlogopite | K(Mg,Ti,Fe)3[(Si,Al)4O10](O,F)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | 'Chloroferrokinoshitalite' | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(Cl,OH,F)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Siderophyllite | KFe2+2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Sokolovaite | CsLi2Al(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Hendricksite | KZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Tetraferriphlogopite | KMg3(Si3Fe3+)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Fluorannite | KFe2+3(Si3Al)O10F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Aspidolite | NaMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Suhailite | (NH4)Fe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Ephesite | NaLiAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Norrishite | KLiMn3+2(Si4O10)O2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Yangzhumingite | KMg2.5(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Orlovite | KLi2Ti(Si4O10)OF |
| 9.EC.20 | Tetraferriannite | KFe2+3(Si3Fe3+)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Shirokshinite | K(NaMg2)(Si4O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Trilithionite | K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Polylithionite | KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Shirozulite | KMn2+3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Preiswerkite | NaMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Fluorophlogopite | KMg3(Si3Al)O10F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Wonesite | (Na,K,âŧ)(Mg,Fe2+,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH,F)4 |
| 9.EC.20 | 'UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi' | (Cs,K)(Al,Li)2.6((Si,Al)4O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Fluorotetraferriphlogopite | KMg3(Fe3+Si3O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Annite | KFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.20 | Eastonite | KMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.22 | 'Pimelite' | Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EC.30 | Margarite | CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Kinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Mg,Mn2+,Al)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Ferrokinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH,F)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Clintonite | CaAlMg2(SiAl3O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Oxykinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe3+,Fe2+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(O,OH,F)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Fluorokinoshitalite | BaMg3(Al2Si2O10)F2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.35 | Anandite | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3((Si,Al,Fe)4O10)(S,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.40 | Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.40 | Beidellite | (Na,Ca0.5)0.3Al2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.40 | Volkonskoite | Ca0.3(Cr,Mg,Fe)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EC.40 | Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.40 | Kurumsakite | (Zn,Ni,Cu)8Al8V5+2Si5O35 · 27H2O (?) |
| 9.EC.40 | Yakhontovite | (Ca,Na)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 9.EC.45 | Swinefordite | Li(Al,Li,Mg)3((Si,Al)4O10)2(OH,F)4 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.45 | Hectorite | Na0.3(Mg,Li)3(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 9.EC.45 | Zincsilite | Zn3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O (?) |
| 9.EC.45 | Hanjiangite | Ba2CaV3+Al(H2AlSi3O12)(CO3)2F |
| 9.EC.45 | Spadaite | MgSiO2(OH)2 · H2O (?) |
| 9.EC.45 | Ferrosaponite | Ca0.3(Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EC.45 | Stevensite | (Ca,Na)xMg3-x(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.45 | Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.45 | Sauconite | Na0.3Zn3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EC.50 | Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| 9.EC.52 | 'Tarasovite' | near NaKAl11Si13O40(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| 9.EC.55 | Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Borocookeite | (LiAl4âŧ)[BSi3O10](OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Franklinfurnaceite | Ca2Fe3+Mn2+3Mn3+(Zn2Si2O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Pennantite | Mn2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Vakhrushevaite | Mg5Cr(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Nimite | Ni5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Cookeite | (LiAl4âŧ)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Gonyerite | Mn2+5Fe3+(Fe3+Si3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Chamosite | Fe2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | 'Orthochamosite' | (Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Baileychlore | Zn5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Sudoite | Mg2Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Glagolevite | Na(Mg,Al)6(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8 |
| 9.EC.55 | Donbassite | Al4.33(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 9.EC.60 | Dozyite | Mg7Al2(Al2Si4O15)(OH)12 |
| 9.EC.60 | Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.EC.60 | Corrensite | (Mg,Fe)9((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)10 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.60 | Aliettite | Ca0.2Mg6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EC.60 | Karpinskite | (Ni,Mg)2Si2O5(OH)2 (?) |
| 9.EC.60 | Lunijianlaite | Li0.7Al6.2(AlSi7O20)(OH,O)10 |
| 9.EC.60 | Tosudite | Na0.5(Al,Mg)6((Si,Al)8O18)(OH)12 · 5H2O |
| 9.EC.60 | Hydrobiotite | K(Mg,Fe2+)6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.60 | Saliotite | (Li,Na)Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)5 |
| 9.EC.60 | Kulkeite | Mg8Al(AlSi7O20)(OH)10 |
| 9.EC.60 | Brinrobertsite | Na0.3Al4(Si4O10)2(OH)4 · 3.5 H2O |
| 9.EC.65 | Macaulayite | (Fe,Al)24Si4O43(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.70 | Burckhardtite | Pb2(Fe3+Te6+)[AlSi3O8]O6 |
| 9.EC.75 | Niksergievite | (Ba,Ca)2Al3(AlSi3O10)(CO3)(OH)6 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.75 | Ferrisurite | (Pb,Ca)2.4Fe3+2(Si4O10)(CO3)1.7(OH)3 · nH2O |
| 9.EC.75 | Surite | (Pb,Ca)3(Al,Fe2+,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 9.EC.80 | Kegelite | Pb8Al4(Si8O20)(SO4)2(CO3)4(OH)8 |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity of the element (Bq/kg) | With decay products (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | 0 | Îą, Îē, Îģ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | 0 | Îą, Îē, Îģ |
| Potassium (K) | 9.8161% | 3,112 | 3,112 | Îē, Îģ |
The decay products of uranium and thorium build up over about a million years, so almost every natural specimen has them; they give nearly all of its gamma radiation. Young secondary uranium minerals can have lost their radium, and with it most of the gamma radiation and radon.
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: about 1,000â3,000 Bq/kg (with decay products)
- Exempt from radiation protection rules (EU Basic Safety Standards, IAEA): 1,000 Bq/kg for each member of the uranium-238 and thorium-232 series, 10,000 Bq/kg for potassium-40; natural minerals and ores are exempt from transport rules up to 10 times these levels. This mineral is below the exemption level.
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 ÂĩSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 ÂĩSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Muscovite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
- Igneous rock
- Sedimentary rock and sediment
- Metamorphic rock
Internet Links for Muscovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2815.html
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References for Muscovite
Reference List:
Baumhauer, H. (1900) Ueber die Krystallformen des Muscovit. Zeitschrift fÞr Kristallographie, 32 (1-6). 164-176 doi:10.1524/zkri.1900.32.1.164
Baumhauer, H. (1913) Ãber den Krystallbau der Lithionglimmer und die Verwachsung von Lepidolith und Muscovit. Zeitschrift fÞr Krystallographie, 51 (1-6). 344-357 doi:10.1524/zkri.1913.51.1.344
Frondel, Clifford (1936) Oriented inclusions of tourmaline in muscovite. American Mineralogist, 21 (12) 777-799
Frondel, Clifford, Ashby, George E. (1937) Oriented inclusions of magnetite and hematite in muscovite. American Mineralogist, 22 (2) 104-121
Gruner, John W. (1939) Formation and stability of muscovite in acid solutions at elevated temperatures. American Mineralogist, 24 (10) 624-628
Volk, Garth W. (1939) Optical and chemical studies of muscovite. American Mineralogist, 24 (4) 255-266
Frondel, Clifford (1940) Oriented inclusions of staurolite, zircon and garnet in muscovite. Skating crystals and their significance. American Mineralogist, 25 (1) 69-87
Woodard, H. H. (1951) The geology and paragenesis of the Lord Hill pegmatite. American Mineralogist, 36 (11-12) 869-883
Heinrich, E. Wm., Levinson, Alfred A. (1953) Studies in the mica group: Mineralogy of the rose muscovites. American Mineralogist, 38 (1-2) 25-49
Yoder, H.S., Eugster, H.P. (1955) Synthetic and natural muscovites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 8 (5) 225-280 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(55)90001-6
Yoder, Hatten S. (1957) Experimental Studies on Micas: A Synthesis. Clays and Clay Minerals, 6 (1) 42-60 doi:10.1346/ccmn.1957.0060105
Nicol, Alastair W. (1963) Topotactic Transformation of Muscovite Under Mild Hydrothermal Conditions. Clays and Clay Minerals, 12 (1). 11-19 doi:10.1346/ccmn.1963.0120104
Crowley, M. S., Roy, Rustum (1964) Crystalline solubility in the muscovite and phlogopite groups. American Mineralogist, 49 (3-4) 348-362
Zen, E-an, Albee, A. L. (1964) Coexistent muscovite and paragonite in pelitic schists. American Mineralogist, 49 (7-8) 904-925
GÞven, Necip, Burnham, Charles W. (1967) The crystal structure of 3T muscovite. Zeitschrift fÞr Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 125 (125) 163-183 doi:10.1524/zkri.1967.125.16.163
Gupta, M. P., Gupta, N. P. (1967) An X-ray investigation of green mica in khondalite from Auranga-Koel Valley, Palamau, Bihar, India. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (280) 591-594 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.280.12 (muscovite with minor Fe and Mg, and traces of Ti, V and Cr)
Henley, K. J. (1970) Cupriferous sericite from the Sar Cheshmeh porphyry copper ore, Kerman Province, Iran. Mineralogical Magazine, 37 (292) 945-947 doi:10.1180/minmag.1970.037.292.15
Black, Philippa M. (1975) Mineralogy of New Caledonian metamorphic rocks. IV. Sheet silicates from the OuÃĐgoa district. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 49 (4). p.269-284. doi:10.1007/bf00376180
Brearley, A. J. (1986) An electron optical study of muscovite breakdown in pelitic xenoliths during pyrometamorphism. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (357) 385-397 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.357.04
Knurr, Rick A.; Bailey, S. W. (1986) Refinement of Mn-Substituted Muscovite and Phlogopite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 34 (1). 7-16 doi:10.1346/ccmn.1986.0340102
Guggenheim, Stephen, Chang, Yu-Hwa, Groos, A. F. Koster van (1987) Muscovite dehydroxylation: High-temperature studies. American Mineralogist, 72 (5-6) 537-550
Rosenberg, Philip E. (1987) Synthetic muscovite solid solutions in the system K2O-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O. American Mineralogist, 72 (7-8) 716-723
Guidotti, Charles V., Mazzoli, Claudio, Sassi, Francesco P., Blencoe, James G. (1992) Compositional controls on the cell dimensions of 2M1 muscovite and paragonite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 4 (2). 283-297 doi:10.1127/ejm/4/2/0283
Rieder, M., Cavazzini, G., DâYakonov, Y.S., Frank-Kamenetskii, V.A., Gottardt, G., Guggenheim, S., Koval, P.V., Muller, G., Neiva, A.M.R., Radoslovich, E.W., Robert, J.L., Sassi, F.P., Takeda, H., Weiss, Z., Wones, D.R. (1998) Nomenclature of the micas. The Canadian Mineralogist, 36 (3) 905-912
McKeown, David A.; Bell, Michael I.; Etz, Edgar S. (1999) Vibrational analysis of the dioctahedral mica: 2M1 muscovite. American Mineralogist, 84 (7). p.1041-1048. doi:10.2138/am-1999-7-806
Guidotti, C. V., Sassi, F. P., Comodi, P., Zanazzi, P. F., Blencoe, J. G. (2000) The contrasting responses of muscovite and paragonite to increasing pressure: petrological implications. The Canadian Mineralogist, 38 (3). 707-712 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.38.3.707
Busigny, Vincent, Cartigny, Pierre, Philippot, Pascal, Javoy, Marc (2003) Ammonium quantification in muscovite by infrared spectroscopy. Chemical Geology, 198 (1) 21-31 doi:10.1016/s0009-2541(02)00420-5
Franceschi, Giada; KocÃĄn, Pavel; Conti, Andrea; Brandstetter, Sebastian; Balajka, Jan; SokoloviÄ, Igor; Valtiner, Markus; Mittendorfer, Florian; Schmid, Michael; SetvÃn, Martin; et al. (2023) Resolving the intrinsic short-range ordering of K+ ions on cleaved muscovite mica. Nature Communications, 14 (1). 208 doi:10.1038/s41467-023-35872-y
Significant localities for Muscovite
Showing 24 significant localities out of 37,814 recorded on mindat.org.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Olivier Langelier Collection |
Peru | |
| collections of Rock Currier +1 other reference |
Sweden | |
| Ted Johnson collection |
Switzerland | |
| |
USA | |
| Anonymous. (1965) +1 other reference |
| Solomon Feinstein Collection. +1 other reference |
| [Phengite var: Mariposite] Bowen et al. (1957) +2 other references |
| Ron Layton Collection |
| Cameron +7 other references |
| Rocks & Min 74:121 (1999) +1 other reference |
| LMSCC Newsletter +1 other reference |
| [var: Schernikite] Bowman (1902) +2 other references |
| [var: Schernikite] Adam Berlutti collection | |
| USGS Professional Paper 255: 333-338. +2 other references |
| Januzzi et al. (1976) | |
| Anthony Scalzi collection |
| [var: Illite] GSA Bulletin +3 other references |
| [var: Schernikite] Cliff Trebilcock collection +1 other reference |
| K. Wood collection |
| - (2005) |
| Gordon (1922) |
| Dana 6: 1088 +5 other references |
| F Roberts |
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Fillow Quarry, Branchville, Redding, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA