vermiculite
/vɜːˈmɪkjʊlaɪt/noun
mass noun
- a yellow or brown mineral found as an alteration product of mica and other minerals, and for insulation or as a moisture-retentive medium for growing plants蛭石。
词源
early 19th cent.: from Latin vermiculari 'be full of worms' （because on expansion due to heat, it shoots out forms resembling small worms） + -ITE1.