Kids Love Mica

When I was young, finding a piece of mica was always a thrill.  It was like discovering a diamond to me.

Of course, it was about the most common mineral around in my yard and I could find new samples almost daily if I really looked.

That didn’t matter, though.  It was always a nice surprise to find a new piece, freshly uncovered after a rainy day.

I was fascinated by the way it flaked into layers that you could actually see through!  I always wondered if this was what led early experimenters to melt sand into glass.

Turns out, large sheets of mica were used for just that long ago.  It was called isenglass and was used in lanterns and boilers because of its heat resistance.

It’s still used today for it’s other properties and you can find out more than you’ll ever want to know about it here.

The name itself, mica, is thought to come from a Latin word that “to glitter” and that glitter was how I always found my mica.

Sunny days made the mica shine like little mirrors in the sand and gravel along the road I lived on.  But only if you were at the right angle.  When I found a piece, I would look for more by moving side to side, watching for a flash of light.

I must have looked very strange to anyone driving by.

If your own young scientist spots something glittering in the sand, stop and check it out.  If it comes apart in layers that you can see through, you know what you’ve got!

You can add the word mica to his or her growing vocabulary, talk a little about minerals in general, and then go on a treasure hunt to find some more.

Have fun.  I know I always did.

Jerry