Editing Mica (section)

== Early history ==
[[File:Hand Hopewell mica.jpg|thumb|upright|Hand carved from mica from the [[Hopewell tradition]]]]
Human use of mica dates back to [[prehistory|prehistoric]] times. Mica was known to ancient [[History of India|Indian]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]], [[Ancient Greece|Greek]], [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], and [[History of China|Chinese]] civilizations, as well as the [[Aztec]] civilization of the [[New World]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wy1xDwAAQBAJ&q=Mica+Indian+Egyptian+Greek+Roman+Aztec+chinese&pg=PT114|title=Ancient Giants of the Americas: Suppressed Evidence and the Hidden History of a Lost Race|last=Haze|first=Xaviant|date=2016-11-21|publisher=Red Wheel/Weiser|isbn=9781632659323|language=en}}</ref>

The earliest use of mica has been found in [[cave painting]]s created during the Upper [[Paleolithic]] period (40,000 BC to 10,000 BC). The first hues were red ([[iron oxide]], [[hematite]], or red [[ochre]]) and black ([[manganese dioxide]], [[pyrolusite]]), though black from juniper or pine carbons has also been discovered. White from kaolin or mica was used occasionally.

A few kilometers northeast of [[Mexico City]] stands the ancient site of [[Teotihuacan]]. Mica was found in the noble palace complex "Viking Group" during an excavation led by Pedro Armillas between 1942 and 1944.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Acosta |first=Jorge R. |title=Archaeological Explorations in Teotihuacan |date=1970 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24316098 |journal=Artes de México |issue=134 |pages=12 |jstor=24316098 |issn=0300-4953}}</ref><ref name="Cowgill-2015">{{Cite book |last=Cowgill |first=George L. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/898206006 |title=Ancient Teotihuacan: early urbanism in Central Mexico |date=2015 |isbn=978-0-521-87033-7 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=180 |oclc=898206006}}</ref> Later, a second deposit was located in the Xalla Complex,<ref name="Cowgill-2015" /> another palatial structure east of Street of the Dead. There is a claim mica was found within the Pyramid of the Sun, which originates from Peter Tompkins in his book ''Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids''.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Peter |last=Tompkins |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1150839351 |title=Mysteries of the Mexican pyramids |date=1987 |publisher=Harper & Row |pages=202 |oclc=1150839351}}</ref> But it is not yet proven.

Natural mica was and still is used by the [[Taos Pueblo|Taos]] and [[Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico|Picuris Pueblos]] Indians in north-central New Mexico to make pottery. The pottery is made from weathered [[Precambrian]] mica [[schist]] and has flecks of mica throughout the vessels. [[Tewa people|Tewa Pueblo]] Pottery is made by coating the clay with mica to provide a dense, glittery micaceous finish over the entire object.<ref name=usgs/>

Mica flakes (called ''abrak'' in Urdu and written as '''ابرک''') are also used in Pakistan to embellish women's summer clothes, especially ''dupattas'' (long light-weight scarves, often colorful and matching the dress).<ref>{{cite web|last=Dehlvi |first=Sadia |title=Tradition and modernity |url=http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/071014/dmag1.htm |publisher=Dawn.com |date=October 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020051416/http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/071014/dmag1.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ramzi |first=Shanaz |title=Fashion through the ages |url=http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/review/archive/050331/review1.htm |publisher=Dawn.com |date=March 31, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020051453/http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/review/archive/050331/review1.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref> Thin mica flakes are added to a hot starch water solution, and the ''dupatta'' is dipped in this water mixture for 3–5 minutes. Then it is hung to air dry.

=== Mica powder ===
[[File:Utamaro (1793) Naniwaya O-Kita.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Kirazuri]]'' printing technique adds mica powder to the gelatin solution as adhesive, here printed on the background.<ref>{{Citation|last=喜多川歌麿筆, Kitagawa Utamaro|title=茶托を持つ難波屋おきた|url=https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000095-I000020390-00?ar=4e1f&lat=&lng=|work=Colbase – Tokyo National Museum 国立博物館所蔵品統合検索システム|date=1790s|trans-title=Okita of Naniwaya with a tea cup|language=ja|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref>]]

Throughout the ages, fine powders of mica have been used for various purposes, including decorations. Powdered mica glitter is used to decorate traditional water clay pots in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh; it is also used on traditional [[Pueblo]] pottery, though not restricted to use on water pots in this case. The ''gulal'' and ''[[abir]]'' (colored powders) used by North Indian [[Hindus]] during the festive season of [[Holi]] contain fine crystals of mica to create a sparkling effect. The majestic [[Padmanabhapuram Palace]], {{convert|65|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Trivandrum]] in India, has colored mica windows.

Mica powder is also used as a decoration in traditional Japanese [[Woodblock printing in Japan|woodblock printmaking]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vixen.co.jp/lp/monocle/|title=浮世絵 > 雲母摺と空摺 (Ukiyoe > Kirazuri and karazuri)|last=ビクセン（Vixen） {{!}} 総合光学機器メーカー|website=単眼鏡が広げる美術鑑賞の世界 {{!}} Mono-scope enhances appreciation of art world|language=ja|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref> as when applied to wet ink with [[gelatin]] as thickener using ''[[kirazuri]]'' technique and allowed to dry, it sparkles and reflects light. Earlier examples are found among paper decorations, with the height as [[Nishi Honganji Sanju-rokunin Kashu|the Nishi Honganji 36 Poets Collection]], codices of illuminated manuscripts in and after ACE 1112. For metallic glitter, ''[[Ukiyo-e]]'' prints employed very thick solution either with or without color pigments stencilled on hairpins, sword blades or fish scales on {{Nihongo|carp streamers|鯉のぼり|Koinobori}}.

The soil around [[Nishio]] in central Japan is rich in mica deposits, which were already mined in the [[Nara period]]. [[Yatsuomote ware]] is a type of local [[Japanese pottery]] from there. After an incident at Mount Yatsuomote a small bell was offered to soothe the ''[[kami]]''. Katō Kumazō started a local tradition where small ceramic [[zodiac]] [[bell]]s (きらら鈴) were made out of local mica kneaded into the [[clay]], and after burning in the kiln the bell would make a pleasing sound when rung.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pref.aichi.jp/sangyoshinko/densan/416.html|title=きらら鈴 &#124; 愛知県}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E3%81%8D%E3%82%89%E3%82%89%E9%88%B4-2101932|title=きらら鈴とは|website=コトバンク}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nishio.mypl.net/article/neta-fresh_nishio/32014|title = 「きらら鈴」を受け継ごうとする"お母さん"たちがいます &#124; 旬な地元ネタ!!&#124; まいぷれ&#91;西尾・碧南・高浜&#93;}}</ref>

=== Medicine ===

[[Ayurveda]], the Hindu system of ancient medicine prevalent in India, includes the purification and processing of mica in preparing Abhraka bhasma, which is claimed as a treatment for diseases of the respiratory and digestive tracts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ayurmedinfo.com/2012/07/02/abhraka-bhasma-benefits-dosage-ingredients-side-effects/ |title=Abhraka Bhasma Preparation, Indications and Properties |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151005045857/http://ayurmedinfo.com/2012/07/02/abhraka-bhasma-benefits-dosage-ingredients-side-effects/ |archive-date=2015-10-05 |website=Ayurmedinfo.com|date=12 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ayurtimes.com/abhrak-bhasma/ |title=Abhraka Bhasma Properties and uses |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004033206/https://www.ayurtimes.com/abhrak-bhasma/ |archive-date=2015-10-04 |website=ayurtimes.com|date=22 November 2014 }}</ref>