  We demonstrate molecular beam growth of graphene on biotite mica substrates
at temperatures below 1000{\deg}C. As indicated by optical and atomic force
microscopy, evaporation of carbon from a high purity solid-state source onto
biotite surface results in the formation of single-, bi-, and multilayer
graphene with size in the micrometer regime. Graphene grown directly on mica
surface is of very high crystalline quality with the defect density below the
threshold detectable by Raman spectroscopy. The interaction between graphene
and the mica substrate is studied by comparison of the Raman spectroscopy and
atomic force microscopy data with the corresponding results obtained for
graphene flakes mechanically exfoliated onto biotite substrates. Experimental
insights are combined with density functional theory calculations to propose a
model for the initial stage of the van der Waals growth of graphene on mica
surfaces. This work provides important hints on how the direct growth of high
quality graphene on insulators can be realized in general without exceeding the
thermal budget limitations of Si technologies.
