 I thought it was a joke, but no. Cummingtonite was not invented for the plot of a cheesy porn movie involving the spelunking exploits of a randy group of mineranalogists. No, cummingtonite is a real mineral. Dark grayish or greenish-brown with a silky to vitreous luster, including fibrous, lamellar and radiating masses, in case that gets your rocks off. It is also called "magnesium iron silicate hydroxide", but since it is particularly common in Cummington, Massachusetts, it gets its more interesting name. I leave it to you to guess whether it will make you more lucky to have one of these rocks in your pocket.
It is not the only ridulously named mineral. See Molecules with Silly
or Unusual Names. What do you think about Arsole, Bastardane, Munchnones, Spermine, Dickite, Fukalite, Pubescine, Clitoriacetal and Vaginatin? I'm not kidding you. There are many more, equally silly and suggestive.
[ Curiosities / funny, science | 27 May 2009 @ 14:04 | | PermaLink ]
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