Mikellit

Mikellit is a historical mineral name that appears in some nineteenth- and early twentieth-century mineralogical writings. It is not a widely recognized mineral species in today’s nomenclature, and there is no single, universally accepted composition attached to the name.

The origin of the term Mikellit is unclear. It may derive from a locality, a person’s name, or a linguistic transliteration that was later superseded by more precise terminology.

Descriptions in old literature vary. Some sources describe Mikellit as a mica-like silicate, whereas others treat it as a misidentification of another mineral, such as muscovite (a member of the mica group) or a feldspathic silicate. Because the name is not attached to an IMA-approved mineral species, it has largely fallen out of use in contemporary mineralogy.

In modern references, Mikellit is usually encountered only in historical contexts, antiquarian mineral catalogs, or linguistic notes on obsolete mineral names. Researchers encountering the term are advised to consult the original publications for context and to consider it as an obsolete or unresolved name rather than a defined mineral species.

See also: mica, muscovite, obsolete mineral names, list of minerals by name.