Attapulgus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A town in southwestern Georgia, United States, known for its geological deposits and historical significance
2. A locality situated in the southeastern region of Georgia notable for its mineral resources and community presence
3. A geographic place within the state of Georgia characterized by its mineral deposits and regional heritage

Etymology: Attapulgus is a small rural community in Decatur County, in the far southwest of Georgia, and its name is better known from the mineral than from the town. The clay deposits around it were mined for fuller's earth, a absorbent clay used to filter oils and clean greasy wool. Mineralogists later identified a distinct magnesium-aluminum silicate clay there and named it attapulgite, after the place where it was found. The town's own name appears to come from a Native American language of the region, but the exact origin and meaning are uncertain, so it is best treated as unresolved. What is documented is the sequence: the town gave its name to the mineral, and the mineral's industrial use, rather than the town's population, is what gave the name wider reach.

Synonyms: attapulgite, fuller's earth