Weekly Phoenix herald., 1882-10-13
MICA
The increasing Importan OF
This Mineral.

Of all the minerals that mankind
has adapted to his purposes, there
probably is none whose local variety,
peculiar mineral structure and gen
eral use IS equivalent to that of
mica, or rs il is frequently called
Isinglfss. This mineral simple in
itself, is but an aggregation of min
ite@imal crystals. which by some un-
in massive form, with laninatcd
structure capable'of being sub-divid-
ed on Il plane with lis axis to such
an extent that one cubic inch can be
sub-diviGe1 by the eye iato about
$50 superficial inches and the same
be again sub-dividcd by the aid OF
the miscroscope until one cubic inch
of IN Ca is made TO cover four or more
superficial feet. This capabillty Of
subdivision in plates or laminac is
not its only peculiarly. 1t varies
from transparency to traDsluceucy.
Through half inch thick piece oil
mica in its most trau, parent forms
can be read the common type of
newspapers. 1t is also tough AMI
flexible, and is capable of bending
as common card. but above all it is
neither attacked by acids or fire. and
it cannot be penetrated by water
or other fluids, in fact, il is laminl-
ted 10 inf1nity. In nature it occurs
in various farms principally de-
termined and named, however, by its
color and the size Of the plates. Five
varIe les arc nov named by miner
alogIsts, the principal ones being
Biolite, Lepdolite, and Muscovite.
The latter. Muscnvite, is the the only
variety of commercial impo tancc.
The name originates from the fact
that formerly in Siberia it WIS used
in windows in the place Of glass.
Mica crystals are rich rhon bodial
piisms of 800 degrees, which sepa-
rate with the greatest facility in fol-
iae parallel with the base of the
crystal. The col)rs are vAIi US. Its
hardness is 2 1913 gravity, 2.60 to 5 1.
No formula composition can be Civ
en-. A general one, however wolld
be, silica A 10 81, alumnia 80 10 81,
a.kali, other than sod, 10 to 10,
fiouric acid 2 to 4. Of the use If mica
in the Eastern work. we have little
record other than that it has been
emplJyci in windows.
De Soto the explorer, relates in
his journal that attracted by the sto-
ries of the Indians, he visited and
re-Op' ned several of these mines, OK
pecting TO find the Eldora 10 which
he sought. Since coal came into
general use, the desire of people to
see the cheerful freight has led to
the cxtt nsive use of mica plates, or
as commonly called Isinglass, in
stoves. Previously its use was con-
fined to lamp chlmneys, lanterns AMI
ship lights. But the stove industry
increasing the use of mica became
general, and deposits of (Muscovitc)
n lea have since been eagerly sou ght.
The demand for mica however, IS
and has been, for stoves alone great
er than the supply, thus causing
an uninterrupted demanl. To the
uniformed it may appear strange
but mica to day is staple article of
couasGsEce.. The fact that mica in
/ 81 - - - must be replaced al
most annually, creates a steady de-
mani.
Recently has been patented It's APP
plcation to shoes, whereby sules at
at 4 trifling expense, are rendered
water proof. And whenever the
quantity OF mica pro luccd is sufii-
cient to supply the demand and the
market price is reduced then ne uses
and applications of it will arise. AS
II lubricator 1t stands prc-cminent,
owing to its nonfriction qualities.
Several patents exist in which
this mineral in a ground state, COM
bined with OIL is used to lubrlcate
cumbrous machinery.
The Market value of mica is great
aid at The present time the demand
is such that it cannot he SUPPLE A
niece CT mica four inches by four
inches. five-eighis of an inch thick
will weigh enc pound, and has II
market value OF 81. A piece three
by six inches, one half inch thick
will weigh one pound and has y
market value of $3.50 and like rel
alive portion of value exists except
in the smallest pieces say onc-half
by two inches. which even has a
value of fifty cents per pound, and
all the refuse and trimmings of the
mica are readily sold to parties who
pulvcrize them for use in the manu-
facturc of nitro glycerinc, and other
dangerous explosives. 1t will thus
be seen that in mica mining we have
an industry worthy of development,
and one which requires no expen.
sive manipulation of the product
subsequent to excavation.
Mica therefor is worthy of investi-
CATION by onr inventors to increase
its use, and by our capitalists for
permanent investment. Much of il,
of various quantities is to be foun,i
throughout Arizona.
H. H TRAVIS.
IIayden-s Ferry Letter.