Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

metalliferous

American  
[met-l-if-er-uhs] / ˌmɛt lˈɪf ər əs /

adjective

  1. containing or yielding metal.


metalliferous British  
/ ˌmɛtəˈlɪfərəs /

adjective

  1. containing a high concentration of metallic elements

    a metalliferous ore

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nonmetalliferous adjective

Etymology

Origin of metalliferous

1650–60; < Latin metallifer ( metalli-, -fer ) + -ous

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.

Until industry has developed a test system for extracting metalliferous nodules from the sea floor, it will not be possible to simulate the actual impacts of mining or to monitor its effects on sediments and communities.

From Nature

The Jefferson County mine has paid $16,759,412.44 in Metalliferous Mine License Taxes during the years of 2006-2018.

From Washington Times

A missing piece of the puzzle is why small and large gas giants do not co-exist around metalliferous stars, for core formation does not obviously preclude a nebula breaking up into gas clumps as well.

From Economist

The jeweler’s bench, which she bought at Metalliferous, did indeed fit the space perfectly.

From New York Times

The Mining Machinery Advances Act empowered the Minister to advance loans from moneys appropriated by Parliament to persons or companies erecting machinery for carrying on mining operations or treating metalliferous ores, such loans to be made on the basis of �1 for �1 of money expended by the applicant.

From Project Gutenberg