tantalite

[ tan-tl-ahyt ]
/ ˈtæn tlˌaɪt /

noun

a black, crystalline mineral, iron tantalate, (Fe, Mn) Ta2O6, the principal ore of tantalum and an end member of a series of solid solutions in which manganese and niobium combine to form columbite.

Origin of tantalite

First recorded in 1795–1805; tantal(um) + -ite1

Example sentences from the Web for tantalite

British Dictionary definitions for tantalite

tantalite
/ (ˈtæntəˌlaɪt) /

noun

a heavy brownish mineral consisting of a tantalum oxide of iron and manganese in orthorhombic crystalline form: it occurs in coarse granite, often with columbite, and is an ore of tantalum. Formula: (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb) 2 O 6

Word Origin for tantalite

C19: from tantalum + -ite 1