Pronunciation: MUSS•coe•vite
Color: colorless in thin sheets; thicker specimens may be yellow, light brown, silvery
Luster: pearly to slightly metallic
Diaphaneity: transparent to translucent; may appear to be opaque in relatively thick hand specimens
Hardness: 2-2.5
Specific gravity: 2.8
Cleavage/fracture: 1 direction; forms paper-thin sheets that are flexible and elastic.
Other distinguishing properties: Muscovite is a mica mineral, so its thin cleavage flakes and colorless- to light-silvery-brown color are diagnostic. Muscovite is a common constituent in igneous rocks and low- to intermediate-grade metamorphic rocks, below ~700°C.
Klein, C., and Hurlbut, C.S., Jr., 1999, Manual of Mineralogy (after James D. Dana) [21st edition, revised]: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 682 p.
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, The Photo Atlas of Minerals: nhm.org/pam/
Return to the Minerals page.
