A clay mineral, a form of montmorillonite, historically used for cleaning and bleaching, and formerly used to clean grease from sheep's wool.
From Latin Cimolus, the Greek island of Kimolos, famous in ancient times for its deposits of fine clay used for fulling and cleaning. The mineral is named after the historical source location.
Cimolite clay was so valuable in ancient Rome that Pliny the Elder specifically praised it in his Natural History—the Greeks and Romans had figured out that clay could absorb oils and dirt, making it perfect for cleaning wool before spinning it into fabric!
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