Where Mica Is Found in North Carolina

North Carolina is the leading U.S. mica producer, centered on the Spruce Pine Mining District (Mitchell, Avery, Yancey counties).

• Spruce Pine – "Mica Capital of the World"; large open-pit mines (Feldspar Corp., Sibelco).
• Primary minerals: Muscovite (sheet mica), scrap/flake mica, feldspar, quartz, kaolin.
• Other occurrences: Franklin-Sylva district (Macon/Jackson cos.), minor pegmatites statewide.

High-quality sheet mica goes to electronics, insulation, cosmetics; scrap mica to joint compound, drilling mud, pearlescent pigments.