coltan

noun

col·​tan ˈkōl-ˌtan How to pronounce coltan (audio)
: a dull black ore that consists of a mixture of columbite and tantalite and is a minor source of tantalum

Examples of coltan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chávez that year said a large reserve of coltan was discovered in the country, according to Reuters. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026 In addition to a long tradition of unregulated gold mining in the Orinoco region of western Venezuela, guerilla groups have more recently begun mining rare earth minerals like coltan. Jason Abbruzzese, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026 For coltan, Apple relies on three Chinese companies and one firm in Kazakhstan, with the mineral likely originating in a mining area of eastern Congo, the lawsuit claimed. Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 Near Goma, there are lucrative mines for gold and for coltan, which is crucial to manufacturing batteries and cellphones. Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coltan

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary columbo-tantalite, from columbite + -o- + tantalite

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coltan was in 1999

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coltan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coltan. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster