Mica-group minerals

258.25700

257.85300

603-531-1

DTXSID3049671

Light gray to dark flakes or particles|Soft, translucent solid; colorless to slight red (ruby), brown to greenish yellow (amber)... thin sheets that are flexible and elastic|Colorless flakes or sheets of hydrous silicates

2525200000

77.51000

-0.81820

MICA, a generic term, refers to any of a group of approximately 30 silicate minerals occurring as non-fibrous plates. Muscovite (hydrated aluminium potassium silicate[KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F, OH)2 ])and phlogopite (potassium magnesium aluminum silicate hydroxide) are the two major micas of commerce. Micas are commonly found in ordinary rocks. Inhalation of mica dust presents an occupational hazard.

2.6-3.2 g/cm³

1500 deg C

1.55-1.61

Insoluble

Store in a dry and well ventilated place away from direct sunlight. Keep containers closed when not in use.

0 mmHg (approx)

Noncombustible Solid

Odorless

Decomposes /Muscovite/|Molecular weight: 398.3 /muscovite and sericite/; 361.8 /phlogopite/; 594.9 /lepidolite/|Mica sheets are chemically inert, dielectric, elastic, flexible, hydrophilic, insulating, lightweight, platy, reflective, refractive, resilient, and range in opacity from transparent to opaque; stable when exposed to light, moisture, extreme temperatures, and electricity; thermally stable to 500 °C, corona resistance|Micas are generally resistant to chemical attack with the exception of muscovite (which decomposes in hydrofluoric acid) and phlogopite (which is mildly attacked by hydrochloric acid and decomposes in hot sulfuric acid)|For more Other Experimental Properties (Complete) data for MICA (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

No rapid reaction with air No rapid reaction with water

Non-Redox-Active Inorganic Compounds

MICAS have generally low chemical reactivity.

Noncombustible Solid

S22

Stable.

P260, P264, P270, P314, P501

H372

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.|Mica may be disposed of in a sanitary landfill.

Certification of this color additive when used in foods is not necessary for the protection of the public health, and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification pursuant to section 721(c) of the act. Use: As a color additive in amounts up to 1.25 percent, by weight, in the following foods: cereals; confections and frostings; gelatin desserts; hard and soft candies (including lozenges); nutritional supplement tablets and gelatin capsules; and chewing gum. The color additive may not be used to color foods for which standards of identity have been issued under section 401 of the act, unless the use of the added color is authorized by such standards. /Mica-based pearlescent pigments/|Certification of this color additive when used in drugs is not necessary for the protection of the public health, and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification pursuant to section 721(c) of the act. Use: Mica-based pearlescent pigments may be safely used to color ingested drugs in amounts up to 3 percent, by weight, of the final drug product. The maximum amount of iron oxide to be used in producing said pigments is not to exceed 55 percent, by weight, in the finished pigment. /Mica-based pearlescent pigments/|Certification of this color additive when used for drugs is not necessary for the protection of the public health, and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification pursuant to section 721(c) of the act. Use: Mica may be safely used in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice to color dentifrices and externally applied drugs, including those for use in the area of the eye.|Certification of this color additive when used for cosmetics is not necessary for the protection of the public health, and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification pursuant to section 721(c) of the act. Use Mica is safe for use in coloring cosmetics generally, including cosmetics applied to the area of the eye, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice.|Certification of this color additive when used as a medical device is not necessary for the protection of the public health, and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification pursuant to section 721(c) of the act. Use: color additive in contact lenses in amounts not to exceed the minimum reasonably required to accomplish the intended coloring effect. /Mica-based pearlescent pigments/

|Danger|H226 (11.28%): Flammable liquid and vapor [Warning Flammable liquids]|P201, P202, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P261, P264, P270, P272, P273, P280, P281, P301+P310, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P308+P313, P314, P321, P331, P332+P313, P333+P313, P362, P363, P370+P378, P391, P403+P235, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 516 companies from 50 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|Warning|H319 (100%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]|P264, P280, P305+P351+P338, and P337+P313|Aggregated GHS information provided by 44 companies from 3 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory.|H315 (33%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]|P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P314, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 690 companies from 20 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]|P260, P264, P270, P314, and P501

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body. Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection. Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift). Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated. Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the work shift. (NIOSH, 2016)|PREVENTION /OF WORKER EXPOSURE/ CONSISTS PRIMARLY IN ADEQUATE DUST CONTROL. WORKERS IN CERTAIN PARTICULARLY EXPOSED JOBS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH MASKS & GOGGLES IF THE GENERAL & EXHAUST VENTILATION FACILITIES DO NOT ENSURE THAT CONCN OF DUST ARE MAINTAINED BELOW MAX PERMISSABLE LEVELS.|Respirator Recommendations: Up to 15 mg/cu m: /Mica (containing <1% quartz)/ [Table#4010]|Respirator Recommendations: Up to 30 mg/cu m: /Mica (containing <1% quartz)/ [Table#4011]|Respirator Recommendations: Up to 75 mg/cu m: /Mica (containing <1% quartz)/ [Table#4012]|For more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Complete) data for MICA (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.|(See protection codes)

WASTEWATER FROM MICA MINING WAS MIXED WITH FLY ASH & ACRYLAMIDE POLYMER IN A TANK UNDER AGITATION PROVIDED BY TANGENTIAL FLOW OF MIXED WASTE.|1. Ventilate area of spill or release. 2. Collect spilled material in the most convenient and safe manner for reclamation or for disposal in a sanitary landfill.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants. Ensure that the local ventilation moves the contaminant away from the worker.

Permissible Exposure Limit: Table Z-3 8-hr Time-Weighted Avg: 20 mppcf (millions of particles per cubic foot of air).

Recommended Exposure Limit: 10 Hr Time-Weighted Avg: 3 mg/cu m (respirable fraction). /Mica (containing <1% quartz)/

Persons with impaired pulmonary function may be at increased risk from exposure.

MUSCOVITE IS GENERALLY FOUND IN SILICEOUS ROCKS; THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL DEPOSITS IN INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA, & THE USA. ...PHLOGOPITE, WHICH OCCURS IN CALCAREOUS ROCKS IS CONCN IN MADAGASCAR.|IN ROCK BODIES, PARTICULARLY IN PEGMATITE VEINS MICA OCCURS AS LENTICULAR MASSES OF CLEAVABLE SHEETS (KNOWN AS BOOKS) OF UP TO 1 M IN DIAM OR AS PARTICLES.|VERMICULITE... LARGE DEPOSITS IN THE USA.|SERICITE IS SIMILAR TO MUSCOVITE. IT RESULTS FROM THE WEATHERING OF SCHISTS & GNEISSES.|MICA AS A PRIMARY CONSTITUENT OF IGNEOUS ROCKS, PARTICULARLY GRANITES. ...COMMON COMPONENT OF SUCH SILICATE MATERIALS AS KAOLIN WHICH ARE PRODUCED BY THE WEATHERING OF THESE ROCKS.

MICA MINERS ARE EXPOSED TO INHALATION OF A WIDE VARIETY OF DUSTS INCL QUARTZ, FELDSPAR, & SILICATES. MANY CASES OF SILICOSIS...IN INDIA IN PARTICULAR; ADVANCED STAGE OF SILICOSIS PROBABLY OBSCURED THE SPECIFIC EFFECT OF MICA.|WHEN MICA WAS PREPARED BY DRY GRINDING, HANDLING & PACKAGING OPERATIONS WERE VERY DUSTY, BUT THIS HAZARD HAS NOW BEEN GREATLY REDUCED BY INTRODUCTION OF WET GRINDING &...MECHANIZATION.|...EVIDENCE OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS IN 8 OF 57 WORKERS EXPOSED TO DUST ASSOCIATED WITH MICA-SCRAP GRINDING. OF 5 WORKERS EXPOSED AT LESS THAN 10 MPPCF, NONE HAD PNEUMOCONIOSIS; CASES WERE FOUND IN 3 MEN EXPOSED AT 18 MPPCF FOR 18, 20, 26 YR, RESPECTIVELY; 3 CASES...AT 40 MPPCF FOR 10, 17, & 23 YR...|...WORKERS EXPOSED TO DUST ASSOCIATED WITH MICA-SCRAP GRINDING. ...2 CASES /OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS/ WERE FOUND IN WORKERS EXPOSED @ 50 PPM FOR 24 & 46 YR. ONLY 1 OF 6 WORKERS EXPOSED MORE THAN 10 YR @ CONCN IN EXCESS OF 25 MPPCF FAILED TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS.|For more Probable Routes of Human Exposure (Complete) data for MICA (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/Experimental Therapy/ Intervention therapy was given to the experimental atrophic gastritis (CAG) rats at three different doses of mica monomer powder preparation to evaluate the changes of chief and parietal cells as well as G and D cells in the gastric mucosa and the histopathological changes of gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Mica monomer powder preparation at three different doses could increase the amount of chief and parietal cells as well as G and D cells in gastric mucosa of the experimental CAG rats and alleviate and control the inflammation of gastric mucosa and the atrophy of gastric mucosa glands. Especially, better effects were shown in the mid and high dose groups. CONCLUSION: Mica has the pharmacological action of protecting the gastric mucosa, enhancing blood flow of the gastric mucosa, and consequently improving the inflammatory responses of the gastric mucosa. One of the mechanisms is associated with promoting the secretion of gastric acid and gastric pepsin and regulating the neuroendocrine mechanism including gut hormone secretion (gastrin and somatostatin) by increasing the number of chief and parietal cells as well as G and D cells.

Certain varieties contain traces of iron, titanium, lithium, sodium and fluorine. /Phlogopite mica/

Exposure Routes: inhalation, skin and/or eye contact Symptoms: Irritation eyes; pneumoconiosis, cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty); lassitude (weakness, exhaustion); weight loss Target Organs: respiratory system (NIOSH, 2016)

Eye: If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical. Breathing: If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Other measures are usually unnecessary. (NIOSH, 2016)|(See procedures)

/SRP:/ Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR if necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on the left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Poisons A and B/|/SRP:/ Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poisons A and B/|/SRP:/ Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Consider administering a beta agonist such as albuterol for severe bronchospasm ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poisons A and B/

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Exposure of workers to mica powder may cause irritation of resp tract & after several years, nodular fibrotic pneumoconiosis that was long considered to be a form of silicosis but which may be due to pure mica dust containing no free silica. Radiological appearance...often close to that of asbestosis...|/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Exposure to mica dust over a period of years may cause scarring of the lungs.|/CASE REPORTS/ Hepatic & pulmonary granulomas were observed in 2 workers exposed to muscovite dust. Diffuse thickening of interalveolar septa due to formation of reticulin & collagen fibers & proliferation of fibroblasts & histiocytes were seen.|/CASE REPORTS/ In liver focal or diffuse swelling of sinusoidal lining cells, sarcoid-type granulomas and perisinusoidal and portal tract fibrosis were observed in 2 workers exposed to mica.|For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for MICA (15 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

mica

inhalation, skin and/or eye contact

irritation eyes; pneumoconiosis, cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty); lassitude (weakness, exhaustion); weight loss

respiratory system

Electrical applications, 95.5%; Vacuum tubes, 33%; Capacitors, 0.1%; Other materials 2.1% (1979)|Ground mica sold or used by producers by end use: Joint cement, 46.6% ; Paint, 13%; Well-drilling muds, 15.8%; and Agricultural products, molded electrical insulation, plastics, rubber, welding rods, textile and decorative coatings, and roofing materials, 24.7% (1984)|Ground mica end uses in 1992 (in thousand metric tons): joint cement, 43; paint, 16; plastics, 4; well-drilling fluid, 2; other (includes molded electrical insulation, rubber, textile and decorative coatings, welding rods, and miscellaneous), 19|Mica (natural): Salient Import Statistics for the United States

Block mica is knife-dressed sheet mica of which 95 wt% has a minimum thickness of 0.2 mm, with the remainder having a minimum thickness of 0.18 mm. The minimum useable area is 625 sq mm. Thins are defined as knife-dressed sheets with a thickness of 0.05 - 0.18 mm. Films are split from superior quality block mica; they overlap with thins in that they have thicknesses of 0.02 - 0.18 mm. Splittings are laminae with a maximum thickness of 0.03 mm and a minimum useable area of 450 sq mm.|Forms: Block, sheet, powder, single crystals.|Several grade forms from 60-mesh to 400-mesh available; aqueous dispersion grades.

Custom compounding of purchased resin|Only two types of mica are commercially important - muscovite and phlogopite; lepidolite was formerly extracted as a source of lithium. Two main forms of commercial mica are produced - sheet and ground mica.|Sericite is the variety of mica known as muscovite, a silicate.|/Mica/ ... name given to group of minerals crystallizing in monoclinic system. These minerals have strong basal cleavage which gives them their characteristic slaty structure when fragmented.|Mica ... less than 1% quartz; it includes nine different species. Muscovite and phlogopite are the major micas of commerce. The former is a hydrated aluminum potassium silicate ... called white mica ... Phlogopite, an aluminum potassium magnesium silicate ... called amber mica. Other forms include biotite, lepidolite, zimmwaldite, and roscoelite.|For more General Manufacturing Information (Complete) data for MICA (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Fiber counting and fiber size measurements were done by means of scanning electron microscope methods.

Food additives|Cosmetics -> Opacifying