Muscovite

It is a mineral of wide dissemination in the world. It occurs in several types of rock, especially granites, pegmatites, schists and gneisses. It is also found in rocks that have been transported and redeposited in new locations (sedimentary rocks) and in certain points of large rock formations that have undergone contact metamorphosis. It also occurs in crystalline limestones. As it is elastic and survives the effects of weathering and displacement, it is also a common component of sandstones and alluvial deposits. It belongs to the group of silicates. It is used in the manufacture of insulators, lubricants, paints and artificial snow. It is one of the most common forms of mica, a widely distributed mineral used in industry because of its great resistance to electricity and heat. Muscovite has a wide range of practical applications and is one of the most important minerals in the world. It is used in the production of rubber, paper and wallpaper, varnishes and ceramics and in transparent oven windows, as well as filling for roof coverings. It is also used as a glass substitute because, although it has many of the properties of glass, it is much more elastic. Russia had immense deposits of the mineral, which was widely used in ship windows and hatches. Hence the name Muscovite, which comes from "Muscovite glass". Muscovy was the old name for the Moscow region.