coltan
Britishnoun
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.
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
But it is also rich in gold and diamonds as well as bauxite and coltan, a mineral that contains a metal used in mobile phones, laptops and other electronics.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 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
Women and children were among those mining coltan - a mineral used to manufacture electronics such as smartphones and computers - at the time.
From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
