Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russia:

T. P. Bubnova, Researcher, bubnova@krc.karelia.ru
O. V. Bukchina, Researcher

Muscovite mica is a mineral human has been utilizing from the earliest times. In the European North, the first knowledge on mica use dates back to the 1st century BC. On some evidence, Karelian mica was added to a raw mix in ceramics making. Later on, muscovite was shipped to central Russia, and by the 16^th century Russia widely traded mica in the world market. Industrial use of muscovite is based on the capacity of this mineral to split into fine, flexible transparent plates possessing high dielectric characteristics, high mechanical strength, thermal and chemical endurance, as well as low water absorbency. Muscovite is used as sheet mica (mostly in electronics) and fine-grained powder (insulation, cement/rubber/pink-and-varnish industries). The world’s top producer of natural ground mica is Finland. Madagascar is the leading produce of phlogopite. Namibia produces Lithia mica. In the Republic of Karelia, mica deposits mainly adjoin muscovite pegmatite and mining-and-processing waste accumulations. The latter require modern processing methods.

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