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Patrick Higgins,, age 12, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for his question:

What is mica?

Mica is a fairly common mineral .found in the earth. It is almost always present in granite and all igneous and metamorphic rocks. Basically.. it is composed of the elements silica and aluminum. Potassium, irony lithium. or hydrogen may also be present, giving different colors and qualities to the mineral.

The best known mica is called muscovite, It is formed in sheets like clear plastic. In days gone by it was used as window panes# for the best quality is almost as clear as glass. Nowadays you may see this type of mica at Christmas time. In fine flakes, it is sold as the decorative snow for the Christmas tree.

Mica also comes in yellows brawn, red and black, Sometimes it is found in sheets two to three feet wide. And the bondable., plastic‑typo mineral can be split into sheets as fine as tissue paper. It has a use in modern industry as an insulator in electrical equipment.

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