mica

Mica Mineral Group: SILICATES
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Mica is a very common part of many rocks. It is mica that makes granite sparkle. Mica is the only mineral that can be bent without breaking. That is because it can be peeled into very thin sheets. Mica that is black or brown is known as biotite mica. Mica that is pearly white or cream colored is muscovite mica. Purple mica is lepidolite. Mica schist is a rock that has a lot of mica in it as well as other minerals.
Biotite Mica
SPECIMEN ORIGIN: Eganville, Ontario, CANADA	Book of BIOTITE MICA tabular “book” Stack, or “book” of thin sheets of black, shiny mica. Peels off easily. Single sheets bend & are transparent to translucent. “Book” is opaque.
Biotite is often found with calcite.
Muscovite Mica
SPECIMEN ORIGIN: Bancroft, Ontario, CANADA	Stack, or “book” of thin sheets of silvery white, shiny mica with vitreous luster. Peels off easily. Single sheets bend & are transparent or translucent. “Book” is opaque.
Mica Schist
SPECIMEN: Garnets in Mica Schist SPECIMEN ORIGIN: Markstay, Ontario, CANADA	Shiny, smooth, greasy feeling rock with red garnets throughout. Silvery black color comes from biotite mica. SPECIMEN: Biotite Schist with Garnets SPECIMEN ORIGIN: Leniel, Quebec, CANADA
Lepidolite
	Lepidolite is pink - mauve in color. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica that occurs in massive chunks. The lithium gives it its distinctive color. SPECIMEN ORIGIN: North Bay, Ontario, CANADA