columbite

[ kuh-luhm-bahyt ]
/ kəˈlʌm baɪt /

noun

a black, crystalline mineral, iron niobate, (Fe, Mn)Nb2O6, the principal ore of niobium, an end member of a series of solid solutions in which manganese and tantalum combine to form tantalite.

Origin of columbite

First recorded in 1795–1805; columb(ium) + -ite1

Words nearby columbite

columbia mental maturity scale, columbia river, columbian, columbic, columbine, columbite, columbium, columbous, columbus, columbus air force base, columbus day

Example sentences from the Web for columbite

British Dictionary definitions for columbite

columbite
/ (kəˈlʌmbaɪt) /

noun

a black mineral consisting of a niobium oxide of iron and manganese in orthorhombic crystalline form: occurs in coarse granite, often with tantalite, and is an ore of niobium. Formula: (Fe, Mn)(Nb) 2 O 6 Also called: niobite

Word Origin for columbite

C19: from columbium + -ite 1