About Muscovite
From Muscovy glass, name used when mineral was first described from the Russian province of Muscovy.
Muscovite hand-specimen
Formula: KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2
System: Monoclinic
Color: White to colorless, silvery-white
Lustre: Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Hardness: 2½
Density: 2.77–2.88
System: Monoclinic
Color: White to colorless, silvery-white
Lustre: Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Hardness: 2½
Density: 2.77–2.88
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #1 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #2 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #3 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #4 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #5 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #6 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #7 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #8 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #9 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #10 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #11 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #12 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #13 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #14 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #15 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #16 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
XPL
PPL
Muscovite #17 thin section (hFOV 2mm)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_1_04-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_10_23-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_10_10-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_21-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_18-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_2_14-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_2_11-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_5_06-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_5_10-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_6_04-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_6_10-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_7_03-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_7_01-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_8_05-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_8_01-1-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_9_05-150x150.jpg)
![[thumb]](http://microckscopic.ro/wp-content/uploads/muscovite_9_10-150x150.jpg)
Muscovite PPL properties
Relief: Moderate positive
Habit/Form: Well-formed tabular crystals with a roughly hexagonal outline are rare. Usually found as micaceous flakes or tablets with irregular outlines, tabular parallel to {001}. Sericite is name given to very fine, ragged grains and aggregates of white mica – usually muscovite – produced by the alteration of feldspars or other minerals. Included grains of zircon or other radioactive minerals may form pale pleochroic halos in surrounding muscovite.
Color: Colorless; pale yellow (Fe), pale green (Fe), pale red (Mn), pale blue-green (Cr)
Pleochroism: Absent; can be weakly pleochroic; Fuchsite is pleochroic in greens.
Cleavage: Very perfect in one direction {001}; in basal sections (z-axis) has no cleavage.
Habit/Form: Well-formed tabular crystals with a roughly hexagonal outline are rare. Usually found as micaceous flakes or tablets with irregular outlines, tabular parallel to {001}. Sericite is name given to very fine, ragged grains and aggregates of white mica – usually muscovite – produced by the alteration of feldspars or other minerals. Included grains of zircon or other radioactive minerals may form pale pleochroic halos in surrounding muscovite.
Color: Colorless; pale yellow (Fe), pale green (Fe), pale red (Mn), pale blue-green (Cr)
Pleochroism: Absent; can be weakly pleochroic; Fuchsite is pleochroic in greens.
Cleavage: Very perfect in one direction {001}; in basal sections (z-axis) has no cleavage.
Muscovite XPL properties
Isotropy/Anisotropy: Anisotropic
Interference color: Order II-III brilliant; basal sections show only weak birefringence.
Extinction angle: 0 – 3° (bird’s eye extinction)
Twins: Twin-plane {110} may be present.
Uniaxial/Biaxial: Biaxial (-) (anomalous Uniaxial-)
Optic axial angle (2V): 2V measured: 30 – 47°, calculated: 38 – 42°
Interference color: Order II-III brilliant; basal sections show only weak birefringence.
Extinction angle: 0 – 3° (bird’s eye extinction)
Twins: Twin-plane {110} may be present.
Uniaxial/Biaxial: Biaxial (-) (anomalous Uniaxial-)
Optic axial angle (2V): 2V measured: 30 – 47°, calculated: 38 – 42°
Muscovite distinguishing features under the microscope
Get Geology Toolkit Premium for more features of Muscovite thin section under the microscope.
References
- Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., & Zussman, J. (2013). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals (pp. 498). Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, London.
- mindat.org – The Mineral Database
