MICA SCHIST

MICA SCHIST, a variety of crystalline shale, the key components of which are mica (muscovite, biotite, paragonite) and quartz. It also contains other metamorphic minerals such as garnet, glaucophane, lawsonite, chlorite, graphite, albite, etc. In Bashkortostan, it is most common in the Maksyutovsky metamorphic complex in the southern part of the Ural‑Tau Ridge. Mica is mainly represented by phengite (high‑silica variety of muscovite). The abundance of light mica in the M.s. determines the intense silver shine and the high decorative qualities of the stone. Usually it has gray colour. Green color is determined by the presence of chlorite, talcum, epidote, actinolite, paragonite; blue – by glaucophane and lawsonite; dark gray – by graphite; claret, golden‑yellow, and bright red – by hematite and gothite. In Zilairsky and Baymaksky raions, durable thinslabby M.s. is developed as a beautiful and durable facing stone, which has received the brand name of “zlatolite”.