Originally named "meerschaum" by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1788, it was named "sepiolite" by Ernst Friedrich Glocker in 1847 for an occurrence in Bettolino, Baldissero Canavese, Torino Province, Piedmont, Italy. The name comes from Greek "sepion" (σήπιον), meaning "cuttlebone" (the porous internal shell of the cuttlefish), + "lithos" (λίθος), meaning "stone", after a perceived resemblance of this mineral to cuttlebone. Because of its low specific gravity and its high porosity, it may float upon water, hence its German name. It is sometimes found floating on the Black Sea and rather suggestive of sea-foam, hence the German origin of the name as well as the French name for the same substance, "écume de mer".