A common silicate mineral found in igneous rocks, typically dark green or black, often containing iron and magnesium.
Named from Greek 'amphibolos' (ambiguous) because early mineralogists found it ambiguous or difficult to distinguish from other dark minerals, especially pyroxene.
Amphibole's confusing name reveals real scientific drama—for centuries, mineralogists couldn't reliably tell amphibole from pyroxene, so they named the whole ambiguous group 'amphibole,' essentially saying 'we'll figure this out later.'
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