coltan

British  

/ ˈkɒlˌtæn /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of coltan

C20: from _columbite + _tantalite

Example Sentences

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

Much of the coltan and other critical minerals, like tungsten, that are mined in the Venezuelan jungle are ultimately shipped to China.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Somaliland officials have said their soil is rich in lithium, coltan and other sought-after resources, though independent studies are lacking.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 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

The Orinoco Mining Arc, covering 112,000 square kilometers, contains an estimated 300,000 metric tons of rare-earth elements, coltan worth $100 billion, and 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026