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

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

The landslide struck Rubaya, the country's biggest source of coltan - an ore vital in the electronics industry - in the rebel-controlled east on Tuesday following heavy rains.

From BBC ● 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

The mine produces 15 to 30 percent of the world's supply of coltan, a key component in the production of electronics such as laptops and mobile phones.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

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