Properties of Muscovite

Muscovite is a common mineral belonging to the mica group. It is a type of phyllosilicate, characterized by its sheet-like or layered structure.

Image of muscovite mineral
Credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com - CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The following table provides a comprehensive list of muscovite properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Note: click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Muscovite Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Chemical FormulaKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2
Molar Mass398.308 g/mol
Crystal SystemMonoclinic
Mohs Hardness2.5 - 3.5
Density2770 - 2880 kg/m3
ColorWhite, gray, silver white, brownish white, or greenish white
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
LusterVitreous (glassy)
Cleavage{001} perfect
FractureMicaceous
StreakWhite
Electrical PropertiesMetric
Relative Permittivity (εr)5.0 - 8.0
Electrical Resistivity1011 - 1012 Ω·m

Note: unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017.