coltan

British

/ ˈkɒlˌtæn /

noun

a metallic ore found esp in the E Congo, consisting of columbite and tantalite (a source of the element tantalum)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of coltan

C20: from _columbite + _tantalite

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

coltan

Between 2012 and 2023, official gold production nearly quadrupled from 13 to 51 tonnes, while the country also boasts veins of iron, diamonds, nickel, manganese, bauxite, copper and coltan.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

The move could help China secure essential supply chains for critical minerals such as cobalt, copper and coltan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

Over the past year, the M23 has made rapid advances across the mineral-rich east of DR Congo, taking more areas where coltan is mined.

From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026

Besides oil, Venezuela is rich in minerals such as gold and diamonds, as well as bauxite, coltan and other rare materials used to make computers and mobile phones.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

Below the jungle lie diamonds, gold and coltan, a compound containing elements needed for cellphones, electric vehicles and more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023