A mineral composed of hydrated aluminum silicate, or a type of clay material used in industrial applications.
From 'Amblystegium' (a genus of moss, from Greek 'amblys' + 'stegos' meaning roof/covering) + the mineral suffix '-ite'. Named because it resembles or was associated with this moss in some specimens.
Mineral names are often derived from plants or animals they resemble—amblystegite got its name because early mineralogists spotted it near a particular moss and decided that was scientific enough.
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