I may be a 31-year-old woman but I possess the crude sense of humor of a 15-year-old boy. I also enjoy learning new things. So, if that's you as well, come on this journey with me and learn about the mineral cummingtonite.

Cummingtonite

I know absolutely nothing about minerals. I know I learned about them in high school but that is a distant memory now. Although I feel like with a name like cummingtonite, that probably would have stuck with me for the long haul.

Cummingtonite is defined as a monoclinic amphibole. What is a monoclinic amphibole? Great question. According to Minerals Education Coalition, amphibole refers to a group of minerals, and monoclinic references the structural category of the crystalline solids, according to Britannica.

So, where did the name come from? According to Mindat, cummingtonite has a deep connection with New England. The name originated in 1824 (long before there was any crude meaning that could be tied to it) from a guy by the name of Chester Dewey who noted this particular mineral was found in Cummington, Massachusetts. It's a fine specimen, Where to Find Rocks quotes Dewey as describing the mineral as being "hard," "yellowish," and having "distinct prisms, with oblique seams," and a "somewhat shining or pearly" luster.

Want to Experience Cummingtonite?

Cummingtonite, while uncommon, isn't exclusive to New England. People can enjoy cummingtonite all over the country like in Arizona and Wisconsin.

If you would like to experience cummingtonite for yourself you can find it all over Maine from Vinalhaven to Moosehead, and Bath.

In fact, it was Bath that a cummingtonite sample was taken and is now on display in an exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston as shared on Reddit by u/kashamorph.

Of course, the innuendo ran rampant through the comments and they are *chef's kiss*;

So there you have it. You learned something new and will impress your teenaged nephew with your new scientific knowledge.

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