Mineral Group · 12 minerals
Mica & Sheet Silicates
Minerals
12
Hardness
1-3.5 Mohs
Crystal Systems
Monoclinic, Triclinic, Non-crystalline
What Defines the Micas Group
Sheet silicates characterized by perfect basal cleavage that allows them to split into thin, flexible sheets. Muscovite (clear), biotite (black), lepidolite (purple, lithium-bearing), and fuchsite (green, chromium-bearing) are the major species. Micas are found in virtually every type of rock on Earth.
Minerals in This Group
Ajoite
The Rare Copper Phantom
Hardness 3.5·Phyllosilicate
Astrophyllite
The Star Leaf
Hardness 3·Silicate Mineral (Phyllosilicate)
Biotite
The Black Mica
Hardness 2.5·Mica Group
Chrysocolla
The Teaching Stone
Hardness 2.5·Phyllosilicate Group
Chrysotile
The Serpentine Fiber
Hardness 2.5·Serpentine Group
Fuchsite
The Emerald Mica
Hardness 2.5·Silicate Mineral (Mica Group)
Lepidolite
The Peace Stone
Hardness 2.5·Mica Group
Muscovite
The Silver Mica
Hardness 2.5·Silicate Mineral (Mica Group)
Seraphinite
The Angel Stone
Hardness 2.5·Clinochlore variety
Serpentine
The Serpent Stone
Hardness 3.5·Phyllosilicate Group
Soapstone
The Carver's Stone
Hardness 1.5·Metamorphic Rock
Talc
The Softest Mineral
Hardness 1·Silicate Mineral (Phyllosilicate)