tantalite

[ tan-tl-ahyt ]

noun

1. a black, crystalline mineral, iron tantalate, (Fe, Mn) Ta 2 O 6 , the principal ore of tantalum and an end member of a series of solid solutions in which manganese and niobium combine to form columbite.

tantalite

/ ˈtæntəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a heavy brownish mineral consisting of a tantalum oxide of iron and manganese in orthorhombic crystalline form: it occurs in coarse granite, often with columbite, and is an ore of tantalum. Formula: (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb) 2 O 6

Word History and Origins

Origin of tantalite¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; tantal(um) + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tantalite¹

C19: from tantalum + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

It is a constituent of certain rare minerals, such as tantalite.

From Project Gutenberg

It is also called Tantalium from the mineral tantalite and yttrotantalite, found in Sweden.

From Project Gutenberg